Welcome!
Thank you for visiting the Big Apple Chorus' website! We are delighted that you have interest in the Big Apple Chorus! We are a chorus of men and women who sing 4-part a cappella harmony.
Please use the menu items in the red banner above to find out more about the Chorus, such as: who we are, how to join, how to engage the Chorus for your upcoming event, etc.
The Chorus during the Pandemic
Like most organizations, when COVID-19 hit New York City, we had to adjust and figure out how we could continue through this horrific worldwide emergency. Our rehearsal space was shuttered, and social distancing quickly became the safe norm, since we were all vulnerable to the virus. Our public performances were cancelled. We had no idea how we would continue to sing.
But survive we did! We turned to Zoom for our weekly rehearsals. That kept us alive and vibrant during the next 15 months, able not only to keep our repertoire in shape, but also to learn 5 new songs (though not able to sing them on Zoom together in 4-part harmony -- "Ugh!"). Among the new songs that we learned while on Zoom are terrific arrangements of ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky," Maroon 5's "Sugar" and the Beach Boys' "Kokomo."
In June, when in-person outdoor gatherings were once again permitted in NYC, we finally resumed meeting together. We wore face masks when necessary, all had been fully vaccinated against the virus and stayed separated a safe distance.
During lock-down, various "for-the-occasion" quartets were able to deliver via Zoom: "Singing Valentines" in February, Mother's Day "Zoom-Grams" and birthday greetings.
Also, a portion of Chorus itself was able to present a short virtual performance on Zoom to a company meeting in Edmonton, Canada. Then, finally, on September 19th, the Chorus finally sang "in person" again, at a Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game in Coney Island!
On an appropriately-chilly December 2nd evening, a contingent from the Chorus sang at the South Street Seaport's 2021 Holiday Tree-Lighting festivities for a masked outdoor audience of about 400 New Yorkers and holiday tourists:
A few days later, members of the Chorus sang in an impromptu performance in Grand Central Station and at the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association's holiday party at the Pershing Square bistro:
Visiting or Joining the Chorus
Men and women who enjoy singing are welcome to visit our Manhattan rehearsals. All one really needs is to be able to sing in tune and to have the desire to create and perform fantastic four-part a cappella harmony.
The ability to read music is helpful, but not necessary. Many of our current members cannot read music; they learn their words and notes (tenor, lead, baritone or bass) by listening to and singing along with audio mp3 "learning tracks" on their computers or cell-phones, while following along with the song's sheet music. The Chorus provides sheet music and learning tracks for all our songs.
For everyone's safety, however, we now require that those who visit/attend a Chorus rehearsal abide by these Chorus COVID guidelines:
Please Check for Rehearsal Location
Due to a several-month renovation at our regular rehearsal space at Norman Thomas High School on E.33rd Street, we have found an excellent rehearsal location at the National Opera Center, located at 330 7th Avenue (NW corner, at 29th St.) in Manhattan. There we will be rehearsing in the MacKay Studio from 7:00 pm until 9:30 pm.
If you would like to visit a rehearsal, please contact us a day or so beforehand via the Big Apple Phone 212 287-5250 or through the CONTACT link (at the top of this web page) to let us know you'll be attending. Please leave a short message with your name and contact phone number. Once there, you should take the elevator to the 7th floor, where the receptionist will direct you to the MacKay Studio.
