About the Group
The Great Neck Choral Society started in 1957 and was incorporated in 1960. Not surprisingly, given our name, many of its members were and still
are residents of one or another of
the villages of Great Neck. However, 45% of the members, attracted by our programs and the quality of our work, come a greater distance to sing with us. Our current
president, for example, lives in Rockville Centre. Other members live in Manhasset, Port Washington, New Hyde Park, Roslyn Heights, Glen Cove, Flushing, Bayside,
Little Neck, Bethpage, Baldwin, East Meadow, Woodbury, West Hempstead, Jericho, and Long Beach.
The chorus currently has about 60 members, ranging widely in age, and we are always looking for new recruits. Like all choruses everywhere, we especially
welcome tenors.
We do hold auditions, but they are not rigorous. Some
of our members have extensive musical training, many have some, and some have none. As is true of choruses generally, what our members have in common is a
love of singing, the ability to stay on pitch, a voice that can blend with others, and the willingness to work as hard as necessary to master both the notes in the score and
the interpretation demanded by the conductor.
We customarily give two major performances each year, one in early December, the other in May. In most recent years, the December program has consisted of
several shorter works, while the May program has been devoted to a single major work. In the fall of s2003, however, we took advantage of an opportunity to join
forces with the Long Island Symphonic Choral Assn., conducted by Gregg Smith, to sing Bach's Mass in B Minor--then followed up in the spring with Handel's
Samson.
From time to time, we also support a smaller, "madrigal" group made up of volunteers from the membership of the chorus. This small ensemble performs at one or more venues during
the season.
Since the group's inception, we have always had an outstanding music director. Our current director, Dr. Virginia Davidson, has
a long history of singing, teaching, and
conducting. She has a great interest in contemporary music, and our December program often includes at least one contemporary piece.
We retain outstanding soloists. And, thanks to the generous support of members and friends,
we have been able to hire a sizable orchestra for at least one of our performances each year.
We rehearse on Wednesday evenings, normally at the Great Neck South Middle School on Lakeville Rd. Performances are on Sunday afternoon. One or two extra
rehearsals are scheduled during the week prior to a performance.
Dues for members currently are $125 a year ($200 for a couple). Many members also cooperate in various fund-raising efforts.