THE LONG ISLAND CHORAL SOCIETY is proud of its unique existence as the oldest continuously performing musical group on Long Island. It was founded in 1929 by Dr. Maurice Garabrant who was the organist at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City. Norman Hollett and Robert Kennedy, both organists at the Cathedral, were subsequent conductors. In 1979, Meredith Elaine Baker became the fourth conductor when the Choral Society became independent of the Cathedral. Three of the four concerts this Season will be presented in that beautiful setting, including the annual performance in December of Handel's Messiah, Part I. The Spring Concert will be presented in the Worship Hall of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset.

The Long Island Choral Society has a reputation for singing the finest works of choral music in performances of the highest caliber, with professional soloists and orchestras. This fine all- volunteer choir is comprised of more than 60 singers, both amateur and professional, who come from more than forty communities in the metropolitan area. Among singers of note who have performed with the Long Island Choral Society in the past are John Charles Thomas, Robert Merrill, Gladys Swarthout, Ray deVoll, and more recently, Betsy Norden, Gary Glaze, Muriel Costa-Greenspon, Gregory Mercer, and Patrick Carfizzi, who debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in Rigoletto on Christmas Eve, 1999.

Since 1929, the Long Island Choral Society has presented premiere performances of music by Honegger, Langlais, Britten, Bernstein, and Stravinsky. They also performed in the movie This is Cinerama. In 1985 and 1986, the Long Island Choral Society sang with the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point in their 1812 Overture Concert on Labor Day Weekend, the first non-military group to do so. In addition to concerts at many other locations, the Choral Society sang at Federal Hall in New York City during the celebration of the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution in 1987.

For the 60th Anniversary Season in March 1989, the Long Island Choral Society performed Verdi’s Requiem for a standing room only audience at the Cathedral. In 1998, they again performed Verdi’s Requiem, but this time it was for their debut in Carnegie Hall with MidAmerica Productions. Verdi’s Requiem will return this Season on April 19, 2009 as they celebrate their Eightieth Anniversary. Their most recent appearance at Carnegie Hall was in Mahler’s Eighth Symphony on November 9, 2007 with the Canterbury Choral Society of New York, conducted by one of Meredith Baker’s mentors, Charles Dodsley Walker.

In July 1990, the Long Island Choral Society traveled to Italy for its first foreign concert tour. In July 1992, an ensemble toured Holland, France, and Germany, singing a total of six concerts in thirteen days.

The Seventy-sixth Season was very special with our first performance of Bach’s Mass in B minor since 1990 and the establishment of the Endowment Fund. Our Eightieth Season brings you an exciting mix of periods and styles; the first three concerts performed with full orchestra. Order your season tickets and make a donation now so that YOU don’t miss a minute of this wonderful music.