The Chorus

In 1984 Susan Glass founded The Glass Menagerie with a group of eight parents and teachers from the Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin High School (LREI) community. Since this modest beginning the chorus has grown in numbers, repertoire, and musical accomplishments. Our members come from throughout the metropolitan area, from every walk of life, and include enthusiastic amateurs as well as professional music educators and performers. Performances have highlighted classical masterworks, folk and vernacular musical traditions, and the work of living composers.

We have commissioned and performed new works by Elliot Z. Levine, Jonathan David, Julie Dolphin, and Rich Campbell; we have celebrated the renowned Robert DeCormier; and collaborated with guest arranger/conductors. We are proud to have been one of the area choruses invited to perform in the 2018 Mile Long Opera, which took place over seven consecutive evenings on New York City’s High Line.

Recent performances have included Bob Chilcott’s The Miracle of the Spring, a celebration of water, one of Earth’s most precious resources; and Ariel Ramirez’s folk drama, Navidad Nuestra. In Spring of 2023, we performed two song cycles, Johannes Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 52 and Randall Thompson’s Frostiana. Our 2023–24 season featured Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.The Road Home explored the many meanings of “home,” with works by Stephen Paulus, Abbie Betinis, and Chris Hutchings. The centerpiece, “Border,” by Rich Campbell, gave voice to those seeking refuge around the world. Fall 2024 featured John Rutter’s Gloria with Brass Octet, Organ, and Percussion while in spring 2025, we presented For the Beauty of the Earth and premiered Mr. Campbell’s “Planet Earth Lullaby,” a work we commissioned. The year came to a close with a grand finale—Strings Attached: Music for Chorus and Violin.