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  • New Performance Time is 7PM
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  •  Date Posted: Sun, Dec 1 2024
    Following the trend in earlier performance times, the Downtown Singers are shifting to a new start time for our performances.  Beginning with our 2024 Messiah performance, our concerts will now start at 7pm.  Please be sure to make note and leave yourself plenty of time to arrive.  Late comers will be asked to sit in the back of the church until the end of the overture or the start of intermission.
  • Spring 2025 Concert Program is Announced
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  •  Date Posted: Sun, Dec 1 2024
    Our Spring Concert promises to uplift your spirits and fill your heart with joy. Prepare to be moved by the power of music as our talented choir presents a diverse program: Illuminare by Elaine Hagenberg, Two Psalms by Gustav Holst, and Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi.  We hope you can join us Saturday June 7th at 7pm.

    Illuminare by Elaine Hagenberg

    Composed by Elaine Hagenberg, Illuminare is a captivating choral work that explores themes of darkness, hope, and the enduring power of light. The piece draws inspiration from sacred scripture and the writings of saints, weaving together a tapestry of text and music that evokes a sense of spiritual renewal.

    Hagenberg's masterful composition guides the listener through a journey of emotional depth, from the depths of despair to the heights of joy. The choral writing is both challenging and rewarding, demanding precision and expressiveness from the performers.

    Two Psalms by Gustav Holst

    Holst's Two Psalms is a pair of choral works composed in 1912. The first psalm, Psalm 86, is a prayerful and introspective setting, characterized by its intimate and austere style. Holst draws inspiration from the Genevan Psalter, using a 16th-century melody as the basis for his composition. The music reflects the text's sense of longing and supplication, with stark harmonies and sparse instrumentation.

    The second psalm, Psalm 148, takes a more exuberant and celebratory approach. It is a joyful praise of God's creation, with soaring melodies and rich harmonies. The music is full of energy and vitality, reflecting the text's exuberant praise of God

    Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi

    This masterpiece showcases Vivaldi's signature style, blending elements of Baroque opera and concerto. The work opens with a triumphant chorus, featuring trumpets and oboes, and continues with a series of contrasting movements, including expressive solos, duets, and ensembles. The "Et in terra pax" movement is particularly notable for its meditative quality and unexpected harmonic shifts.The final "Cum Sancto Spiritu" is a powerful fugue, borrowed from another composer and enhanced by Vivaldi's distinctive orchestration. This Gloria is a testament to Vivaldi's genius, captivating audiences with its exuberance, beauty, and emotional depth.
     

     

  • Let's talk about Parking
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  •  Date Posted: Sun, Dec 1 2024
    The Downtown Singers want to ensure our patrons are aware of all the parking options available for our performances.  The parking lot for the church proper is small, and we would ask that everyone leave those spaces for our patrons with mobility challenges.  That said, UHS has generously offered their parking lot, directly behind the church lot, for the use of our patrons during our performances.  After hours parking is also available across the street at the Johnson City Post Office, another UHS parking lot next to the post office, and at the bank.  Please be careful and use caution crossing the street.
  • Director's Corner
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  •  Date Posted: Sun, Dec 1 2024
    What is a community in choir form?  This question has been on my mind the past year as the new Artistic Director of the Binghamton Downtown Singers.  The Singers welcomed me with open arms and jumped into a new way of rehearsing, singing, and communicating.  For me, it has been both exciting and challenging to lead such a dedicated choral ensemble. Exciting, because I get to be in front of a choir and make music with people who are extremely dedicated to choral singing. Also, I get to direct, shape, and bring to life pieces of music that I have enjoyed throughout my life.  Challenging, because I am relatively new to leading such a large choral ensemble, and leading them through an enjoyable, educational, and emotional choral performance is not easy. So, what does community mean in a choral setting? I think this past year has shown me that firstly, it is the music and stories we bring to life. Secondly, it is the connections made between the choir members who are communicating this musical story. Thirdly, it is the choir's relationship with the audience in a performance and our ability to lead them on an emotional journey as well.  Lastly, and most importantly, it is the way in which we give back to the community we sing in.  Yes, our performances are a way of giving back, but what else does a choir do for a community?

    Messiah 2023 was a change for the singers, with me stepping in as Artistic Director. Spring 2024 was a challenging emotional journey for the choir as we sang Sing for the Cure, a modern oratorio dealing with cancer and its effect on people's lives.  It is my goal as the Artistic Director to find new ways to give back to the community with our time as well as our voices.  The Downtown Singers have a long legacy of giving to the community since its inception in 1983, and I hope to be able to continue that legacy and add to it.  I hope to find new and exciting music to bring to our audiences. I hope to continually be challenged by the question of what a community choir is and means for our singers and our community.  Messiah 2024 is sure to be a wonderful performance, and I am excited by our upcoming Spring 2025 concert.  As I look to future years ahead with the Downtown Singers, I know I will continue to grow, but I hope to continue to grow the outstanding legacy and connection the choir as with you, our community as well.

    With thanks,
    Robert Manners, Artistic Director
     
  • Meet Our New Artistic Director: Robert J. Manners
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  •  Date Posted: Mon, Jul 15 2024
    The board of directors is pleased to announce that Mr. Robert Manners has been offered and has accepted the position of Artistic Director of the Binghamton Downtown Singers. The Board is very proud of the success of the Spring Concert and the dedication the choir showed in learning new material. We believe the choir will continue to grow and learn under Mr. Manners direction.

    The Downtown Singers have spent the better part of the last year completing an extensive search for a new artistic director. Last fall we completed interviews and had rehearsals with six different candidates before offering the position on an interim basis through the concert season. This spring we continued the process by evaluating growth and surveying members of the choir.

    When asked about accepting the offer, Mr. Manners said, "I am excited to be welcomed officially into the Downtown Singers family and am looking forward to continuing to share the joy of choral music across the Binghamton community."

    Mr. Manners' biography can be found here: https://www.downtownsingers.org/artisticdirector
  • Meet Our Soloists and Narrator
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  •  Date Posted: Wed, May 15 2024
    The Binghamton Downtown Singers are pleased to introduce our soloists and narrator for our Love, Harmony, and Spirit concert June 8th at 7:30pm. We've presented some highlights of their careers below. Please see the program at our performance for their full biographies.
     

    Tshombe Selby - Tenor Soloist

    Tshombe Selby, from Manteo, N.C., is a rising operatic tenor and performing artist. Mr. Selby holds degrees from Elizabeth State University (B.M) and Binghamton University (M.M). For the last decade Tshombe has worked and studied in New York City, where he began working as an usher at the Metropolitan Opera; it is here, that his love for Opera and his musical ear was refined, and to what eventually lead him to singing on that very stage.

    During the 2021-22 and 2022-23 Met Opera seasons Tshombe performed in various concerts and multiple productions including the the critically acclaimed opera, Fire Shut Up In My Bones, which recently scored a Grammy Award in 2023. In the current season of the Met opera Selby has performed In ten operas and one concert with the Met as member of the chorus and featured tenor soloist of the ensemble.

    Timothy LeFebvre - Baritone Soloist

    Nationally acclaimed baritone Timothy LeFebvre has wide-ranging experience from the operatic stage to the concert hall. LeFebvre’s last performance with State College Choral Society was Mendelsssohn’s Elijah in 2019. Recent performances include Dvorak’s Te Deum with Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Handel’s Messiah and Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio with Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem with Symphoria (Syracuse, NY), Jesse Jones’ Of Daylight & Night, Liptak’s Ancient Songs, Barber’s Dover Beach, and Ravel’s Trois Poemes de Stephane Mallarmé at Oberlin Conservatory, Dett’s The Ordering of Moses at Oberlin Conservatory, Mendelssohn’s Elijah with New Dominion Chorale (Washington, DC), Brahms’ Requiem with Hamilton College, Bach’s Saint John Passion with Spoleto Festival USA.

    Mr. LeFebvre is currently Professor of Voice at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he is also division director of vocal studies. During the summer, LeFebvre is the Young Artists Division Head for Bel Canto in Tuscany, a three-week program for singers.

    Tracy Davidson - Narrator

    For 30 years, 14-time Emmy Award-winning journalist Tracy Davidson has been connecting with people, both through her position as a news-anchor and as a highly coveted resilience speaker. She’s given hundreds of speeches, including a TedX focused on the price of digital distraction. At most events, Tracy bravely reveals her own life experiences and shares skills which have enabled her to overcome formidable challenges from childhood and empowered her to serve others with information and empathy.

    Tracy’s mission in life is to empower women and girls, both personally and professionally. Her talks help teach women how to transform their lives by focusing their time, energy and attention, and embracing their true selves.

    Tracy co-anchors NBC10 News at 4pm and NBC10 News at 5pm every day in Philadelphia. She is also the station’s Investigative Consumer Reporter, solving difficult issues for viewers. That job aligns with her personal mission to serve others.

  • Director's Corner
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  •  Date Posted: Wed, May 15 2024
    The Binghamton Downtown Singers are excited to bring to you our spring 2024 performance. Our concert of “Love, Harmony, and Spirit!” promises to be a musical and emotional journey you will enjoy. Our concert opens with The Chariot Jubilee, an arrangement of a familiar spiritual by R. Nathaniel Dett, featuring tenor soloist, Tshombe Selby. Our harmonic journey then takes us to the romantic world of Ralph Vaughan Williams, and his Five Mystical Songs, featuring baritone soloist, Timothy LeFebvre. The second portion of our concert features a not-so-typical oratorio: Sing for the Cure: a Proclamation of Hope, with narrations by Tracy Davidson. This cycle of songs highlights the stories of breast cancer. From diagnosis and treatment, to humor and recovery, to pain and loss, this work takes us on a journey of love that will have an emotional impact on both the performance and audience. We hope you will be able to attend the performance!

    Robert Manners - Spring 2024
  • Artistic Director Emeritus Named
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  •  Date Posted: Mon, Nov 27 2023
    The Binghamton Downtown Singers are pleased to announce that Marisa Crabb will continue her association with the choir as our Artistic Director Emeritus.  Using her unique knowledge and experience stemming from her long tenure, Marisa will support the ongoing mission and success of the choir.

    Please open the attachment to read Marisa’s thoughts on her time as Artistic Director and her future with the choir.

    The choir gratefully appreciates Marisa's continued and loving support.
    Attachment:
    Letter from Marisa Crabb
  • Robert J. Manners Named Interim Artistic Director
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  •  Date Posted: Tue, Nov 21 2023
    The Binghamton Downtown Singers and Orchestra are excited to announce that Robert J. Manners has been named their Interim Artistic Director following an extensive, months’ long search.

    Marisa Crabb, widow of DTS co-founder Alan Crabb, stepped away from the Artistic Director post following the ensemble’s June 2023 concert to spend more time with family. Manners will make his DTS conducting debut Dec. 9 with the Downtown Singers and Orchestra’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah.

    A Binghamton-based choral conductor and music educator, Manners currently serves as the concert manager for the Binghamton University Music Department. He also is a general music teacher for St. Mary’s Catholic School in Cortland.

    Manners received his bachelor of music in music theory from Nazareth College of Rochester (2014), his masters of music in composition from Florida State University (2016) and his masters of music in choral conducting from Binghamton University (2023). At BU, he studied with William Culverhouse.

    While at BU, Manners was the assistant director of the Chamber Singers, Treble Choir and Harpur Chorale and founded a tenor/bass ensemble. A lyric baritone, he serves as section leader and substitute director for the United Presbyterian Church in Binghamton, as well as a regular cantor for many local churches.
     
    When applying for the DTS position, Manners spoke of music’s ability to unite a community:
    “I believe a community choir brings people together from unique and diverse backgrounds who are enthusiastic about music. I also believe that the music being performed can be enriching not only for the community but also for the performers in the choir. I can recall how the joy of performing large works such as Mendelssohn’s Elijah or Handel’s Messiah would inspire my own musical abilities, but how also being exposed to newer works such as Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living [which DTS performed last spring] or the suite Sing for the Cure can uplift a community.”

    As Interim Artistic Director for DTS’s 2023-24 season, Manners will not only lead the traditional Messiah performance but will program the spring concert, which could feature music that, unlike Messiah, is not currently in the chorus members’ repertoire.

    “I think this is one of the harder parts of being a choir director, to help the singer realize they have the ability and confidence to perform music that may be slightly above their comfort zone. I am always inspired by singers who rise to this challenge,” Manners said in his application.

    After Manners’ appointment was announced, DTS Board Co-President Julie Drozdowski commented: “While the choir will greatly miss being led by someone with the name of Crabb, we are excited at the potential a new conductor and perspective brings. Mr. Manners has already shared new ideas and interpretations with the choir, as well as a potential spring concert piece, and  we are looking forward to the future and a fulfilling partnership.”

    The Downtown Singers and Orchestra’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church, 308 Main St., Johnson City. General admission tickets at $20 are now available at the DTS website, www.downtownsingers.org/tickets; by emailing tickets@downtownsingers.org, or calling 607-205-8741. One free student admission is allowed with each purchase of a ticket.

    This project is 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. & Willma C. Hoyt Foundation. Funding is also provided by a project grant from The Ahearn Foundation.
     
  • Meet Our Soloists
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  •  Date Posted: Wed, Nov 15 2023
    The Downtown Singers are pleased to announce our soloists for this year's performance of Handel's Messiah.  An abbreviated biography for each soloist appears below.  You will find their full biographies in the program at our concert.

    Martha Guth – Soprano Soloist - Juno nominated soprano Martha Guth’s recital and concert highlights include Wigmore Hall, Lincoln Center, The National Cathedral, St. John Smith Square, Oxford Song, Leeds Lieder, The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Chicago Philharmonic, Voices of Ascension, and many more. Her longtime recital and touring partners include Graham Johnson and Erika Switzer. Her recitals have been recorded and broadcast for the CBC Radio/Radio Canada, the BBC Radio in the U.K and the WDR in Germany and she is proud to have worked under the batons of Maestro’s Seiji Ozawa, Robert Spano, Helmut Rilling, John Nelson, Richard Bradshaw, and Alan Gilbert among many others.

    Dawn Pierce -  Mezzo-soprano Soloist - Dawn is a native of Olean, New York, and currently an associate professor of voice at Ithaca College. She was recently a featured recitalist in the Middlebury Song Festival, and has performed Verdi Requiem, Beethoven’s Ninth and Messiah with symphonies throughout the country. On the operatic stage, she’s performed Béatrice in Beatrice et Bénédict with Asheville Lyric Opera, Charlotte in Werther with Mobile Opera, and Carmen in Carmen with Opera Ithaca. She is internationally recognized for her top-selling course, How to Sing with The Great Courses.

    Vale Rideout - Tenor Soloist  - Val enjoys a career on the opera and concert stage. He has sung major roles with San Francisco Opera (Alfred in Die Fledermaus), Palm Beach Opera (Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni), Boston Lyric Opera (Quint in The Turn of the Screw), Kentucky Opera (Roméo in Roméo et Juliette), Central City Opera (Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor),
    Tulsa Opera (Tamino in The Magic Flute), and Nashville Opera (Frank Shallard in Elmer Gantry). He has sung with major symphonies including the New York Philharmonic (Maazel/War Requiem), Los Angeles Philharmonic (War Requiem), Seattle Symphony (Messiah), Jacksonville Symphony (War Requiem), Nashville Symphony (Messiah), Detroit Symphony (Beethoven 9), Washington Chorus (Missa Solemnis), New Orleans Philharmonic (Messiah, Christmas Oratorio), Trinity Church Wall Street (Britten - Serenade, Stravinsky - Les Noces) and Toledo Symphony (Verdi Requiem). 

    Steven Stull - Baritone Soloist -  Steven has lived and performed in Ithaca since 1986 and appears regularly with Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Society for New Music, Rochester Philharmonic, and Opera Ithaca. He has been a soloist in sixty performances with Symphoria, Syracuse Symphony, and Syracuse Opera, and has sung nearly eighty performances with the West Virginia Symphony. In Binghamton, Steven appeared as Figaro in The Barber of Seville, Danilo in The Merry Widow, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, and the Captain in HMS Pinafore with Tri-Cities Opera, and as Lancelot in Camelot with BC Pops. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Oberlin College Conservatory, he has also appeared with Glimmerglass Opera, Artpark, BAM, Kyrgyz State Opera, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh, American Modern Ensemble, Oswego Opera, Anchorage Festival of Music, Fredonia Bach and Beyond Festival, and orchestras in Buffalo, Erie, and Jacksonville. 
  • Open Letter to Current and New Members
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  •  Date Posted: Fri, Sep 1 2023
    Dear members of the Binghamton Downtown Singers,

    The Board is very excited to welcome you back for our annual winter concert featuring Handel's Messiah. Rehearsals are starting soon, so we wanted to share some important information with you. First, rehearsals will begin Sunday, September 10th, and will be held weekly at Sarah Jane Johnson UMC from 7-9:15pm. Please bring a pencil, water, your score (if you have one) and your enthusiasm. Please do not wear perfumes or scented lotions.  Doors will lock at 7:15 for security purposes, if you need to arrive late, please reach out to a member of the Board. We will have scores available to buy if needed and will begin collecting dues at the first rehearsal ($25 for regular members, $5 for students). For important information, please read our policies and procedures which can be found in the members only section of our website https://www.downtownsingers.org/members.  If you need help getting logged in, please contact Rocky at secretary@downtownsingers.org.

    Second, as most of you know, the Board of Directors has a committee currently conducting a search for an interim conductor/artistic director. They have been working very hard behind the scenes this summer and have many very talented candidates. Now we need your help! Prior to our first rehearsal, we will have a short list of candidates that will be invited to conduct 2 rehearsals each.  After each rehearsal, we will ask you to complete a feedback form either in Google forms (preferred) or on paper, which we will provide. We are asking that you give each candidate your full participation and to share your honest thoughts. The plan is to have a final decision made by October 29th. If you have any questions, please feel free to email the copresidents@downtownsingers.org or to catch Julie or Faith before or after rehearsal.

    We can't wait to sing with you all again. New members are always welcome, so bring friends and we'll see you on September 10th.

    The Binghamton Downtown Singers Board of Directors
     
  • Downtown Singers are Thankful for Grants
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  •  Date Posted: Thu, Jun 1 2023
    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.
  • 40th Year Celebration Continues
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  •  Date Posted: Wed, May 31 2023
    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.

     
  • Downtown Singers Perform Local Composer's Work
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  •  Date Posted: Wed, May 31 2023
    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
  • New Credit Card Payment Option
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  •  Date Posted: Thu, Mar 30 2023
    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.
  • New Box Office Number
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  •  Date Posted: Thu, Mar 30 2023
    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.
  • Downtown Singers Perform at CHOW Concert
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  •  Date Posted: Thu, Dec 8 2022
    A group of volunteers from the Binghamton Downtown Singers performed at the 2022 CHOW Concert on Sunday December 4th.  We hope you enjoy this video of that performance.
    YouTube Video URL:
  • Start Our 40th Year in Style
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  •  Date Posted: Sun, Dec 4 2022
    The Binghamton Downtown Singers will celebrate their 40th year with a gala
    cocktail party from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, at Remlik’s, 31 Lewis St.,
    Binghamton. Past and present singers, soloists and orchestra members and their guests
    are invited.

    Here’s a chance to renew old friendships and make new ones while extending the
    festive holiday season – and proving that you own other “glad rags” than just
    concert black and white.

    An hors d’oeuvres buffet will be $20. Advance tickets are required and can be purchased until January 7th on the DTS website.
    There will be a cash bar.
    For more information, see: https://downtownsingers.org/gala
  • Soloists Reunite to Celebrate 40th Year
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  •  Date Posted: Sun, Nov 20 2022
    For our 40th year celebration, the Binghamton Downtown Singers wanted to do something special.

    While the Board of Directors gathered posters from previous concerts, the idea to invite soloists from past performances was born. Our Principal Artistic Director, Marisa Crabb, contacted several soloists who were thrilled with the idea. Here are some of their responses:

    This warms my heart and I'm excited to return to Binghamton! I would be delighted to sing with you all! 

    I can’t tell you how much I look forward to singing this wonderful piece with you and the DTS! 

    Count me in! I am excited and honored to be a part of this performance. 

    Congrats on your 40th anniversary – such a testament to Alan and to you.

    So, as a special treat to kick off our 40th year, our Messiah performance will feature seven soloists, rather than our usual four.  We invite you to come join us to hear these amazing voices once again.
  • Choir Grows with New Members
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  •  Date Posted: Thu, Nov 17 2022
    We are excited to be able to make many Covid-related requirements now optional for our rehearsals and performances. As a result, we are seeing our singers return in force for our 40th year.  But the more exciting news is that we are seeing a large growth in first-time singers.  They comprise 10% of our current chorus!  New singers have joined each section, and they are excited to sing with us, and to sing the Messiah. 

    Here's what some of our new members have to say about joining the choir:

    "My mom used to bring me to rehearsals when I was just a baby. Then I started singing The Messiah when I was 9. The DT Singers have been my extended family. This group raised me; giving me love, and a world class music education. I've learned the importance of listening to my neighbors and the importance of my own voice."

    "I'm excited to be a part of the Singers; this experience has been like no other musical endeavor I've embarked upon. I'm meeting wonderful people and learning new music at the same time. I'm so blessed to be carrying on this amazing local legacy and I hope my voice, joined with the rest of the Singers, can honor the memory of those who are no longer with us."

    "For many years I dreamed of singing the Messiah but had no training (not even in high school!) and thought it unlikely to happen. But with the encouragement of my eldest child I joined the DTS for the Messiah and learned so much. It's an enormous blessing to be part of such a talented and artistic group and I look forward to more seasons to come!"

     
  • Help Us Celebrate Our Story By Telling Us Your Story
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  •  Date Posted: Thu, Nov 17 2022

    As we celebrate our 40th year, we want to hear your story. Maybe you sang with us years ago and want to share that experience. Maybe you are one of our loyal patrons and have a fond memory of a performance and how it brought the spirit of the season to your heart. Or maybe you're a current member and want to share what performing with the choir means to you.

    Whatever your story, we would enjoy having you share it with us so we can share it with others. Please click the link below to go to the entry form.

    Enter Story

  • Tickets for 40th Year Messiah Available Online
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  •  Date Posted: Fri, Nov 4 2022
    The Binghamton Downtown Singers are pleased to announce that online ticket sales are now available at https://www.downtownsingers.org/tickets for our 40th year Messiah performance. Tickets are $20 per person and may be purchased with a credit card, or by sending a check to:

    Binghamton Downtown Singers
    PO Box 1143
    Binghamton NY 13902-1143

    Tickets purchased online with a credit card can be printed immediately.  Tickets purchased online with a check can be printed once the check has cleared.

    In addition, one student is admitted free with each ticket purchase, so bring those young people in your life to enjoy this glorious holiday music.

    Tickets may also be purchased by leaving a message at 607-875-4371, by emailing tickets@downtownsingers.org, or by contacting any choir member.
  • Guest Conductor expands our skills
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  •  Date Posted: Thu, Jun 2 2022
    Since 1983, the Binghamton Downtown Singers have been known for performances of large-scale vocal masterworks from centuries past. Even our occasional forays into a more modern repertoire have been for major works with full orchestral accompaniment.

    But Artistic Director Marisa Crabb knew that we were capable of even more and, for our spring 2020 concert, planned a program that blended more traditional fare (Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem and his Cantique de Jean Racine) with shorter pieces that would perhaps take us out of our musical comfort zones.

    For that portion of the concert, Crabb turned to Peter Sicilian, a Tri-Cities Opera veteran who parlayed his performance training and experience into a career teaching and coaching at both Binghamton University and SUNY-Broome. COVID-19 shut down the 2020 rehearsals, but, fortunately, Sicilian was again available for this year.

    “It’s always been my intention to do this sort of performance in which we do different types of music,” Crabb said, adding that she had long wanted to work with Sicilian. She said Sicilian has a different approach to preparing singers, including a wide variety of vocal exercises, that would “make the choir stronger.”

    Sicilian will conduct Seal Lullaby by Eric Whitaker, Prayer of St. Francis by Allen Pote and Hosanna, Hosanna by Glenn Burleigh, all with piano accompaniment, and the a cappella Shenandoah, arranged by Derric Johnson. The unaccompanied Shenandoah and the gospel-style Hosanna are particularly new ground for some of the chorus members, but Sicilian has helped the choir rise to the challenge.

    Crabb describes Sicilian as both a longtime supporter of Downtown Singers and as a friend and TCO colleague of her late husband, DTS co-founder Alan Crabb. 

    “Downtown Singers is such a mainstay in the community. From the time of Alan in the ’80s to the present day with Marisa, I have always looked forward to their spirited performances, and I am thrilled to step in front of this group of amazing musicians and be some small part of this musical powerhouse of the Southern Tier,” Sicilian said.

    Sicilian, who also serves as music director/organist at the Church of the Holy Family in Endwell, received his bachelor music degree from Syracuse University and a master’s in music with an opera specialization from Binghamton University. He is a former artistic director of Tri-Cities Opera.
  • Tickets Now Available Online
  •  
  •  Date Posted: Sun, Mar 27 2022

    We are excited to announce that we are offering online ticket sales for our June 4th concert through our new website. Go to www.downtownsingers.org/tickets and click on the “Buy Tickets” icon. For your convenience, tickets may be purchased with a credit card, or you may send a check.  Tickets purchased with a credit card may be printed immediately. Tickets purchased with a check may be printed using the link in your confirmation email once payment has been received.

    You can also purchase tickets by leaving a message at 607-875-4371, by emailing tickets@downtownsingers.org, or by contacting any choir member.

    For questions about purchasing tickets online, please email websiteadmin@downtownsingers.org.

    We hope to see you June 4th!
     
    For more information, see: www.downtownsingers.org/tickets
  • Downtown Singers Awarded UCF Grant
  •  
  •  Date Posted: Thu, Mar 10 2022
    BCAC ANNOUNCES OVER $261K FOR
    2022 UNITED CULTURAL FUND (UCF) RECIPIENTS
     
     The Broome County Arts Council (BCAC) announced $261,059.00 in 2022 United Cultural Funds (UCF) to 21 local artists, arts organizations and community non-profits - a substantial increase from the number of awards granted in 2021. Applicant statistics in Broome County reflect a nationwide picture: a greater number of medium and large arts organizations sought deeper levels of grant support to counteract loss of revenue due to COVID lockdown in 2020. However, more individual artists and small arts organizations seemed to demonstrate a renewed faith in the recovery of the Arts by launching fresh, new programs. “Altogether, this paints a very positive picture of creativity and economic recovery through the Arts in Broome County,” says Deb Colón, BCAC Board Chair. In the next several months, look for virtual writing workshops, events, and publishing opportunities, a production of the musical The Bridges of Madison County, a Haudenosaunee Festival, a ceremony and celebration for Twelfth Night, an urban farm mural, and much more.

    2022 UCF General Operations awards were granted to Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, Bundy Museum of History and Art, Discovery Center of the Southern Tier, Endicott Performing Arts Center, Goodwill Theatre & Firehouse Stage, LUMA, Roberson Museum and Science Center, and Tri-Cities Opera. 2022 UCF Project awards support the work of thirteen individual artists and smaller, community arts projects with Grants of $1000 each. 2022 UCF Project recipients included the following: The Center for Gender, Art, & Culture, the Kopernik Society of Broome County, the Vestal Museum & Coal House, Binghamton Community Orchestra, Binghamton Downtown Singers, The Binghamton Poetry Project, Binghamton Theater Organ Society, Cornell Cooperative Extension, First Presbyterian Church, Jenna McIntosh,The Madrigal Choir of Binghamton, The Nanticoke Valley Historical Society of Maine, NY, and SRO Productions. Additionally, Broome County Arts Council received 15% of UCF Campaign totals, reserved for BCAC’s general operations & programming.

    Major donors whose charitable gifts helped make UCF grants possible include: the Stewart W. & Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, Broome County Government, the Dr. G. Clifford & Florence B. Decker Foundation, the Miller S. & Adelaide S. Gaffney Foundation, IBM, Eugene & Judith Peckham, Columbian Financial Group, NBT Bank, Mediabrush Marketing, Sentry Alarms, Chianis & Anderson Architects, Dr. Pamela Smart, Visions Federal Credit Union, and other local businesses and individuals who believe in the value of arts investment.

    Since 1987, the Broome County Arts Council’s United Cultural Fund has distributed over $11 million to the Arts in Broome County, while serving over 100,000 residents. UCF grantees typically return $3-$4 million dollars to Broome County’s economy, annually. The economic impact of revenue loss due to COVID has been hard-felt in the Arts community since March of 2020, but with an 18 month recovery period predicted (AFTA, 2020), United Cultural Campaign funding continues to be especially critical to the health and vitality of our County. As ever, we are grateful for the generosity of all who supported the recovery and sustainability of the Arts in Broome County with their donations.
  • Spring 2022 Concert Program Announcement
  •  
  •  Date Posted: Wed, Nov 10 2021
    The Binghamton Downtown Singers are pleased to announce the program for our Spring 2022 concert.  Our Spring concert will feature Gabriel Faure's Requiem. According to good-music-guide.com, "Faure's Requiem is unique. The anguish, loss and horrors of Death and Judgement Day are left by the wayside. Faure concentrates on the true meaning of the word "Requiem", or "rest". His Requiem is about peaceful acceptance and release, and the music is serene, elevating, comforting."

    We look forward to sharing this unique requiem with you in the Spring.
  • Downtown Singers Launch New Website
  •  
  •  Date Posted: Fri, Oct 29 2021
    The Binghamton Downtown Singers are pleased to announce the launch of their new and improved website.  The new website includes interactive public pages where visitors can subscribe to our mailing list, see upcoming performance details, learn about the choir's rich history, and even learn how to join the choir and share our joy of music.  In addition, the choir can now accept donations by credit card for the convenience of our patrons.

    Please take a few moments to explore!

Contact Us

Rehearsals

Every Sunday 7pm at
Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial  United Methodist Church
308 Main Street, Johnson City, NY map

 

Tickets and Inquiries

For Tickets:

visit https://downtownsingers.org/tickets
or call 607-205-8741 and leave a message

For Inquiries:


Postal Address:
Binghamton Downtown Singers 
PO Box 1143
Binghamton NY 13902-1143
 

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Upcoming Events

  • Glory and Light Concert

    Glory and Light Concert

    Sat, Jun 7 2025
    Our spring concert theme is Glory and Light. It promises to uplift your spirits and fill your heart with joy. Prepare to be moved by the power of music as ... more
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