The Binghamton Downtown Singers are proud to announce they will be performing a composition by a local composer, Dan Forrest, as part of their Spring 2023 concert.  Here's what the composer had to say:

"As a native of the Elmira area, who attended choir festivals in Johnson City in high school, I’m delighted for my Requiem to be performed here in Johnson City! What a beautiful story of coming full circle. I’m grateful every time a choir and orchestra bring my music to life again, in the ears of their audience, but especially so in this special place. May this music resonate deeply with performers and audience alike here in the Souther Tier!"

We hope you can join us on June 10th at 7:30PM at Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church to enjoy A Requiem for the Living. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.downtownsingers.org/tickets

As we continue to celebrate our 40th year, we'd like to share some of our rich history with you.

Alan Crabb was the original artistic director of the Binghamton Downtown Singers which was founded in 1983.  Many of the original members of the choir were former students of Alan who had taught for several years in the Binghamton area.  Alan felt it was important that amateur singers be given the opportunity to learn and perform master choral works, and that the community as a whole be given the opportunity to hear those master choral works regardless of their means.  This remains the mission of the choir to this day.

While the Downtown Singers are probably best known for their annual presentation of Handel's Messiah, a Binghamton holiday tradition, the choir has also performed many other works and at many other venues over the years including: the Roberson Museum, Pops on the River, the Binghamton baseball stadium, and the Binghamton Philharmonic's Home for the Holidays concert.  The Downtown Singers have even gained international recognition.  The choir has performed in France and has also received a congratulatory letter from Queen Elizabeth II.

Tragically, Alan passed away in the fall of 2012, just as the choir had begun preparing for our 30th year presentation of the Messiah.  Instead of celebrating the choir was grieving.  Bill Lawson, the choir’s accompanist at the time, stepped up to the podium to lead rehearsals and make our 30th anniversary performance a reality. The choir is grateful to Bill for making that possible.

In the meantime, the Board of Directors initiated a nationwide search for a new music director. After a lengthy search, and several interviews, the Board offered the position to Marisa Crabb, Alan’s wife.  Marisa accepted, and the choir began a new chapter. Marisa brought her own unique style and determination to rehearsals and the choir responded. She focused on refining the choir’s sound without sacrificing the “no audition needed” policy. The Binghamton music community noticed, and the choir continues to thrive and present beautiful music for the Binghamton area to enjoy.

 

Once again this year, the Binghamton Downtown Singers are truly grateful to all the organizations who provide financial support through grants.  Our Spring 2023 Concert for Healing featuring Brahms’ Requiem and Forrest’s A Requiem for the Living was made possible by a grant from the Arts and Culture Fund of the Community Foundation of South Central New York. This performance is also made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House. Additional support for the Broome SCR Program graciously provided by the Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, Inc. Additional funding is provided in part by a grant from the Broome County Arts Council’s United Cultural Fund and the Ahearn Foundation.

Thanks again to all these organizations for their financial support of the Downtown Singers!  It is truly appreciated.

The Downtown Singers have a new box office number.  The new number is 607-205-8741.  Please update any saved contact information you may have for our office.

We are pleased to announce that we can now accept credit card payments over the phone for those patrons who aren't comfortable paying online.  When a member of our box office staff returns your phone call, just let them know that you'd like to purchase your concert tickets using a major credit card.  To purchase tickets over the phone, please call our box office 607-205-8741 and leave a message.  Please do not leave your credit card information, but instead wait for the call back.