The Dessoff Choirs, a fixture on the New York classical music scene ever since its founding in 1924 by Margarete Dessoff, is thrilled to be celebrating its 100th anniversary this season. Leading off the celebration is a performance of the Brahms Requiem on November 2, 2024 at 4 PM at The Town Hall. Along with the Dessoff Choirs and orchestra, conducted by Malcolm J. Merriweather, the concert features renowned artists baritone Will Liverman and soprano Joélle Harvey, Dessoff alumni and former Dessoff conductors Kent Tritle and Christopher Shepard.

Dessoff has performed the Brahms Requiem at least four times before: twice with piano four hands and twice with orchestra. This program holds special significance, as Brahms and Otto Dessoff (founder Margarete Dessoff's father) were friends. Brahms provided Mr. Dessoff the opportunity to conduct the premiere of his Symphony No. 1, and Dessoff dedicated his String Quartet in F, Op. 7 to Brahms. Further, The Town Hall has been an important partner to The Dessoff Choirs, as the group has performed at the venue over fifty times since its initial concert in 1926.

Future programs this anniversary season feature works first presented by Miss Dessoff to New York audiences, along with a recently discovered choral work by Florence Price. The final concert of the season is a joint presentation with Trinity Wall Street of Verdi's Requiem along with a newly-commissioned work by Tania León.

Known for introducing unknown, long forgotten or newly-composed works to American audiences, Dessoff's nine music directors have continued expanding Margarete's legacy, each in their own way. Malcolm J. Merriweather, Dessoff's current music director, has used this podium to reintroduce the works of African-American women composers including Margaret Bonds, Florence Price and Valerie Capers.

Dessoff's world-premiere recording of Margaret Bonds's Credo and Simon Bore the Cross was released in February 2023 and received rave reviews. WRTI wrote that "[the album] brings new luster, and the utmost care of execution. Under the baton of Malcolm J. Merriweather, The Dessoff Choirs has a profound simpatico with Bonds' mature compositional style…" We are also featured on a new album from Roomful of Teeth, Rough Magic, in a recently-commissioned Eve Beglarian work, None More Than You.

Other recent discography includes Margaret Bonds: The Ballad of the Brown King & Selected Songs, a debut recording of Margaret Bonds's crowning achievement, which was cited as a "Best Classical Recording of 2019" by WQXR-FM Radio; Reflections, featuring music by Convery, Corigliano, Moravec and Rorem; and Glories on Glories, a collection of American song featuring composers from Billings to Ives.

For more information, visit dessoff.org.