Now in its 30th season, Cerddorion (Welsh for “musicians”) is one of New York’s most highly regarded choral ensembles. A selective choir of 24 to 28 mixed voices, the group is known for its technical artistry, interpretive depth, and eclectic programming that spans Western choral literature, from early polyphony to 21st Century works. Cerddorion is a multi-generational, volunteer ensemble committed to professional-caliber musicianship. Many of our singers are professional musicians; others are accomplished amateurs who share deep knowledge and mastery of choral music.
Fostering new choral music is central to Cerddorion’s mission. We have commissioned work from prominent composers (including Lisa Bielawa, Sidney Marquez Boquiren, Robert Dennis, Elliot Z. Levine, David Stern, and Pulitzer Prize winners David Lang and Paul Moravec) as well as talented artists soon to be discovered. Cerddorion’s annual Emerging Composers Competition draws an international applicant pool and has led to world premieres by 15 rising composers.
Collaboration is another central tenet: Cerddorion’s artistic partners have included youth ensembles, folk musicians, modern dance companies, baroque orchestras, Shakespearean actors, and others. Most recently, in 2023 the group co-presented concerts in New York and at Yale University with The Unsung Collective, a Harlem-based ensemble directed by Tyrone Clinton, Jr., featuring choral settings of poetry by Langston Hughes. In 2018, the group performed for eight nights in The Mile-Long Opera: A Biography of 7 O’Clock — as New York City’s High Line became the stage for a massive multimedia performance created by architect Liz Diller, composer David Lang, and librettists Anne Carson and Claudia Rankine.
Cerddorion is a proud member of the New York Choral Consortium and Vocal Area Network, and an Artist in Residence at the Church of St. Ignatius of Antioch.
