Meredith Elaine Baker

Choral music is such a wonderful expression of individuals working together to create an ensemble! If you have known the joy of singing with a good chorus, you are a very special person. Perhaps you will come audition to sing with us this season. If you have developed your palate by listening to great choruses, you are just the people that we want to invite to come hear what we do.

Lovingly rehearsed, our performances are recognized throughout Long Island and much of the Metropolitan area as well-prepared and expertly presented. Our organ accompanist and orchestra members are the finest, coming from all around Long Island, New York City’s five boroughs...and, we have free parking!

Another great tradition we are known for is the showcasing of one musician as our Artist-in- Residence each season. This year we have invited Arlene Travis to assume that role. Starting her career as a nurse, she has developed a great following among Baroque and Contemporary music lovers. She works with a small Baroque ensemble, often appearing at venues throughout New York City. She has absolute pitch, so is often called upon to sing atonal works. She attends workshops and seminars, and is constantly refining her art.

Soloists will be exciting additions to our three major concerts in November, December and March. May will be a presentation of favorite opera choruses that will feature our singing members.

Season planning is always about balancing interesting music with obtaining the finances required to make it all the way through the season! We are one of the last choral groups on Long Island that hires professional soloists and professional orchestra members for three major concerts each year. And then we present another major concert usually accompanied by piano in May. We add other smaller performances and “Sings” during the Christmas season and during the summer. Our singers just can’t get enough!

I am honored to be directing my 32 season as conductor of the nd Long Island Choral Society. I have enjoyed working with wonderful singers for many years and also reveled in finding new singers joining us each year. We know how busy everyone is, so it’s wonderful to see faithful consistent singers melding with new young singers each season.

Come hear my new setting of the Roman Catholic Mass text in November coupled with Rutter’s Requiem. December will feature seasonal carols preceding our annual Messiah, Part I. March will herald those Classical giants, Haydn (Missa St. Joannis de Deo or Little Organ Mass) and Beethoven (Mass In C). Come to our May concert to enjoy favorite opera choruses and hear the winners of the 31st Annual Young Artist Competition. We need your support to make this another great year. Donations are needed to allow us to program such interesting works. Anything you can contribute is greatly appreciated. Please look over the various exciting ways that you can honor loved ones, sponsor instrumentalists, or become patrons at various levels.

See you very soon!

Meredith Elaine Baker