New Amsterdam Singers

Virtual choir videos have been a vital way for chorus singers to keep making music during the pandemic. Hopefully they will soon be a thing of the past. Until then, enjoy one that we recorded for our spring virtual concert: Andrew Rindfleisch's An Irish Blessing https://youtu.be/SmA0xKF7w7c

June 6, 1988: Members of New Amsterdam Singers seldom learn choreography and don costumes and masks for our concerts, but that wasn’t the case when we performed a semi-staged version of Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas at St. Peter’s Church in the Citicorp Center in June 1988. Led by music director Clara Longstreth, the chorus was joined by professional singers and accompanied by La Stravaganza Baroque Orchestra. There were no sets a spare but effective production, said a reviewer in Newsday only levels of the altar and balconies to help covey the story of ill-fated lovers. #ThrowbackThursday

Our music director Clara Longstreth enjoys a May birthday, and that’s a busy concert time of year for us. So sometimes we get to celebrate together and serenade her, as we did [unspecified number] of years ago. Tomorrow may not be Clara’s exact birthday, but it’s still a chance for us all to gather, celebrate and send her belated birthday wishes via Zoom chat. Our free virtual spring concert, A Season of Hope, is on May 21 at 7:30 pm. Register to get the link at nasingers.org/season-of-hope. #ThrowbackThursday #MusicInPlace

One week from tonight we'll present a free, virtual musical event. This program of favorites from our past, new virtual choir recordings and an interview with a composer whose work we'll perform next season is a thank you to all our loyal friends and supporters. It's on Friday, May 21 at 7:30 pm. To join us, register at http://nasingers.org/season-of-hope #musicinplace

What did New Amsterdam Singers music director Clara Longstreth (and 15 other choral luminaries) pick for "5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Choral Music"? How many singers remember performing this work with the chorus? Share your 5-minute favorite below.

Tonight at 7, join us for one of our casual, judgment-free Zoom singalongs! Assistant conductor will lead us in works by Brahms, Bach, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and more. If you've already registered for Music in Place, you should have received the music and link already. If not, go to nasingers.org/music-in-place to sign up. #MusicInPlace

Remember the super-spreader chorus rehearsal last year? Here's the story of that Washington chorus and a look at how the whole choral world is coping a year into the pandemic.

Chorus alumni, long-time singers and veteran audience members will remember our former accompanist Elizabeth Rodgers. This Tuesday at 7 p.m., as part of our Music In Place series, we'll host a free online concert with Elizabeth and composer Wendy Griffiths. The program will feature a performance of Griffiths’ suite for piano, "Rogue Taxidermy," a discussion with Wendy and Elizabeth led by Clara Longstreth, and more. If you haven't already registered for Music In Place to get access information, you can do so at nasingers.org/music-in-place. #MusicInPlace

This Tuesday at 7 p.m., join us for a Music In Place event featuring Tim Kaine, who happens to be an avid bluegrass harmonica player and singer as well as a U.S. Senator. Register at nasingers.org/music-in-place to receive access information. #MusicInPlace

Every year an intrepid group of singers, along with partners, children and dogs, start our annual fall outing with a hike in the Hudson Highlands. Our destinations have included Sugarloaf Hill and an outcrop overlooking Bear Mountain called Anthony’s Nose. For the record, we never get lost. We just sometimes have to pause and puzzle out where we are. #TBT #ThrowbackThursday

Tonight at 7! Join us for our next Music In Place event, an introduction to gyrokinesis, a practice of gentle stretching and breathing exercises that help strengthen the back and increase range of motion. Register at nasingers.org/music-in-place to receive access information. All are welcome! #musicinplace

It’s fall! Which for New Amsterdam Singers traditionally means traveling north of New York City for an outing in the countryeating from an endless buffet, picking apples, swimming, hiking, playing softball, enjoying views of the Hudson. Dogs welcome! We miss these annual gatherings and look forward to when we can be together again safely. #TBT #ThrowbackThursday

Many thanks to Dashon Burton, Bass-Baritone for kicking off our fall Music In Place series last night with a talk with New Amsterdam Singers music director Clara Longstreth. It was inspiring to hear your story (and voice!), as well as your thoughts on music in a time of pandemic and the difficult times our country is going through. To learn about future events and join us on these Tuesday evening Zoom calls, go to www.nasingers.org/music-in-place/ #musicinplace

Since May, the New Amsterdam Singers has been gathering virtually to sing together, listen to recitals, learn from composers, and morea program we're calling Music in Place. For the 2020-2021 season, we're offering our audience the chance to join us in these experiences, kicking off on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m with a conversation with world-renowned bass-baritone Dashon Burton, a past guest artist with NAS and a member of the contemporary vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth. W...e’ll hear musical selections and learn more about his creative process. By registering at www.nasingers.org/music-in-place/ you'll be invited to these exclusive events every other Tuesday, including open rehearsals with our assistant conductor David Recca. We're making Music In Place free to all our friends, but we hope you will consider helping support this seriesand the chorusin this unprecedented time. #musicinplace See more

On September 9, 1999, more than a dozen members of New Amsterdam Singers joined the Collegiate Chorale to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards, held that year at the Metropolitan Opera House. As the show opened, the chorus, led by conductor Robert Bass, sang a mash-up of O Fortuna from Carmina Burana and Kid Rock’s Bawitdaba, setting up Kid Rock to introduce host Chris Rock, who rose from the orchestra pit to deliver his monologue. As the curtain closed and movable chorus risers took us offstage, members of Run-DMC cheered us on from the wings. Bootleg videos of the opener can still be found online. #TBT #ThrowbackThursday

On Sunday, September 9, 1990, New Amsterdam Singers performed at the reopening of Ellis Island and dedication of the new museum housed in the red-brick building that served at the immigrant processing center for decades. Joining us on the stage was the United States Marine Corp. band, as Vice President Dan Quayle presided over the ceremony. The evening before, the chorus sang at the reopening gala, appearing alongside the New York Philharmonic, Jerry Hadley and Leslie Uggams. Our musical contributions included Aaron Copland’s Simple Gifts and Leonard Bernstein’s Make Our Garden Grow from Candide. #TBT #ThrowbackThursday