New York Choral Society Celebrates 52nd Anniversary With Spring Gala 4/6

The New York Choral Society will celebrate its 52nd Anniversary with a Spring Gala, on April 6 at The National Arts Club. The esteemed chorus and its Music Director John Daly Goodwin will be joined by friends and patrons in honoring distinguished entertainer and human rights activist Harry Belafonte, who will be presented with the Humanitarian Award and composer and conductor Steven Mercurio who will receive the Music Excellence Award.

The cocktail reception will begin at 6:00 PM followed by a seated dinner at 7:00 PM. The awards will be presented by clothing designer Kenneth Cole and Opera News editor Brian Kellow. Dianne Bernhard, acting President of The National Arts Club, will also present Harry Belafonte with their Gold Medal of Honor. The National Arts Club has previously presented this prestigious award to Itzhak Perlman, Kenneth Cole, Martin Scorsese, and Jessica Tandy, among others. Afterwards, guests are invited to enjoy a dessert reception with entertainment provided by rising soprano Sarah Joy Kabanuck and the New York Choral Society. The evening will also feature a silent auction of items generously donated by friends and patrons of the Choral Society.

HONOREES

Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte is both an artist and activist. As a student of the Dramatic Workshop of the New School of Social Research under the tutelage of the renowned German director, Erwin Piscator, Mr. Belefonte discovered one of his life's passions. His extensive work in the performing arts has earned him worldwide recognition. His first Broadway appearance in John Murray Anderson's Almanac earned him a Tony Award. As the first black producer in television, he won an Emmy for his CBS production of "An evening with Belafonte" directed by Norman Jewison. At the dawning of his cinematic film career, Carmen Jones took top critical honors and attracted Oscar nominations. Musically, his RCA album "Calypso" made him the first artist in industry history to sell over 1 million LP's. In addition to his numerous artistic achievements, Mr. Belafonte is also a dedicated human rights activist. A friend of Martin Luther King, Jr., he was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to be the cultural advisor for the Peace Corps and served for five years. Belafonte was prominent in the contribution to the ending of the oppressive apartheid government of South Africa and for the release of his friend, Nelson Mandela. Disturbed by cruel events unfolding in Africa due to war, drought, and famine, Belafonte set in motion the wheels that led to "We Are the World" on January 28, 1985. He contacted manager, Ken Kragen, and they, along with others, guided and directed the project known as USA for Africa. In 1987, Belafonte accepted the appointment as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, thus making him the second American to hold this title. Belafonte has continued to devote himself globally to civil and human rights issues, focusing in particular on the United States and Africa.

Steven Mercurio
Steven Mercurio is a conductor and composer whose musical versatility encompasses the symphonic and operatic worlds. He is also a sought after collaborator for many award winning recordings, arrangements and film projects. He has conducted more than forty-five different operas on the world's best loved stages including the Teatro dell'Opera, Roma; Teatro Bellini, Catania; Teatro Filarmonico, Verona; Teatro Reggio, Torino; Theatre de la Monnaie in Brussels, Bonn Opera, Teatro Massimo, Palermo; Teatro Verdi, Trieste; English National Opera as well as the American opera companies of San Francisco, Washington National Opera. In addition to his operatic repertoire, his symphonic appearances have included; the London Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. As a composer, Maestro Mercurio's compositions include songs, chamber works, and pieces for large orchestra. "For Lost Loved Ones," was given its world premiere by Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. His most recent composition, "Mercurial Overture," was given its world premiere by the Oslo Philharmonic in a concert telecast honoring the Nobel Peace Prize winners with Maestro Mercurio conducting. He has also written arrangements for a wide array of artists including Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Ben Heppner, Bryn Terfel, Marcello Giordani and Secret Garden.

ABOUT NEW YORK CHORAL SOCIETY
The New York Choral Society (NYCS), founded in 1958, has become known by audiences and critics for the quality of its performances and the diversity of its repertoire, which encompass well-known choral masterworks as well as many compositions rarely heard in concert halls. The NYCS has presented eleven world premieres and has commissioned works by Paul Alan Levi, Morton Gould, Stephen Paulus, and Robert De Cormier.

John Daly Goodwin, Music Director of the New York Choral Society, has built on the ensemble's tradition of excellence over the past 23 seasons to make it the chorus of choice for American Ballet Theatre, the Richard Tucker Music Foundation and the September Concert Foundation. Under his direction, the chorus has performed in China, the Czech Republic, Israel, Austria, France, Italy, and Greece. His performances of such works as Mahler's 8th Symphony, Beethoven's Missa solemnis, and the Requiems of Verdi, Mozart, and Brahms have achieved much critical acclaim. He has conducted more than 90 concerts around New York City, including 40 in Carnegie Hall and 7 at Lincoln Center, and has prepared choruses for Leonard Bernstein, Dennis Russell Davies, Asher Fisch, Yong Yan Hu, Yehudi Menuhin, Eve Queler, Julius Rudel, Gerard Schwarz, Leonard Slatkin, and Robert Spano.

Goodwin's strong personal commitment to music education has led him to do extensive volunteer work with aspiring young musicians. Through Young Audiences, Artsgenesis, and the New York Choral Society's Mini Maestros program, he has brought the gift of music to thousands of children in New York City public schools.

TICKETS: Tickets are $250 for the full gala evening, or $75 for an 8:00 entry to Dessert & Entertainment only. Tables of ten can be purchased for $2,500 and $5,000. Tickets are available online at www.nychoral.org/support/gala. For more information call (212) 247-3878.