Thank you for your continued support of one of the oldest arts organizations on the East End. The Choral Society of the Hamptons is celebrating 75 years of bringing people together through the joy of singing and choral music. It is because of founder Charlotte Rogers Smith, past and present board members, donors, volunteers, singers, and audiences alike that we are enabled to continue this great tradition of building community through music.
—
Daniel K. McKeever
Retired Board President
Mission
To enrich the cultural life of the area by providing singers in the surrounding communities with an opportunity to perform in concert under skilled direction; to acquaint adults and young people with the best musical literature of the ages; and to encourage contemporary composers by serving as a forum for their music.
History
An auditioned chorus with professional music director, soloists, orchestra, and accompanists, The Choral Society of the Hamptons has been presenting high-quality choral music on the East End of Long Island, New York since it was founded in 1946 by Charlotte Rogers Smith, a local church choir director.
Over the years, under renowned conductors, including Mark Mangini, the Society’s music director, Hugh Ross, John Daly Goodwin, and Gilbert Kaplan, the Choral Society has performed works by all the great choral composers and commissioned new pieces, occasionally expanding its repertoire to include jazz and works for the musical theater. The Society has performed with renowned artists such as Dave Brubeck, Norman Dello Joio, Clamma Dale, and members of the Metropolitan Opera, and as far away as The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and in New York City at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, and for the annual Christmas-tree-lighting ceremony in Rockefeller Center.
Singing members of all ages come from across the East End and include professionals in other areas of music. The South Fork Chamber Orchestra, with which the chorus often performs, consists of musicians from Long Island and New York City. Soloists are drawn from the top ranks of opera, oratorio, and musical theater.
Among many favorable reviews, the late Lee Davis of The Southampton Press noted, “The Choral Society of the Hamptons is well and rightly noted for its astonishing professionalism. A local group of volunteer singers, they, through repeated concerts, accompanied by professional orchestras, have never failed to either thrill or astound by their virtuosity, purity and energy.” The composer Eric Salzman, reviewing for The East Hampton Star, declared Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms “a big challenge to any choir… and you can’t just go through the motions; this music needs vigor and passion. This is the World Cup of contemporary choral singing, and our team emerged as winners!”
The Choral Society is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, and to further encourage choral music, the Society gives scholarships for musical training to talented singers in local schools.
Leadership
Board of Directors
Sara Davison, President
Carol Balodis, Vice President
Lylla Carter, Vice President
Gary Hodgins, Treasurer
Susan Raymond, Secretary
Robert Borden
Molly Channing
Allen Fein, M.D.
Janet Fensterer
Susan Kane
Daniel K. McKeever
Thomas P. Milton
Marcia Previti
Staff
Executive Director
Maria Fumai Dietrich
Staff Accountant
Tracey Gill
Orchestra Contractor
Song-A Cho