The Huntington Choral Society

This spring’s concert will be a bittersweet one for the members of the Huntington Choral Society. Their director of 34 years - one of only three in the group’s fifty-plus+ year history – will be passing his baton on to a new director; yet to be determined. Steven Finch was hired in 1984 and has conducted the Choral Society in concerts of a wide and varied repertoire from oratorio to evenings of opera and cabaret; from medieval carols to a major premiere of a contemporary choral work. Under his direction the chorus has performed at Carnegie Hall with the Opera Orchestra of New York and with the New York Virtuosi at Tilles Center.

His tenure has been long, happy and extremely successful, leaving a powerful legacy. However, it is clear that the advent of his retirement will be a turning point for the organization. The search for a new director is an historic opportunity and responsibility to further the Choral Society’s mission and livelihood in the present as well as for the future.

To this end a Search Committee was formed, comprised of individuals who have served the organization in a wide variety of capacities over many years. Some of the members served on the search committee that found and hired Steven Finch those many years ago. The search began in earnest last September when ads were placed in the NY metropolitan area. The target areas included colleges, universities, music schools, and conservatories, public schools, synagogues and churches. It also was advertised in professional music organization sites through their online platforms and websites.

After exhaustive vetting of the 30 responding applicants, the field was narrowed down to six candidates. Audition dates were scheduled to bring selected candidates before the group to lead a rehearsal and a simple survey form was created for members to provide feedback. Those responses will be taken back to the committee and a recommendation will be made to the Board by the end of February.

Concert scheduling usually extends two years out but with this “changing of the guard” the goal will be to have the new director on board by April at the latest so preparation for next year in terms of budget, programming, music selection, can begin anew.

All this will culminate with a series of events to mark this auspicious occasion beginning with the Choral Society’s Annual Gala featuring a theme of “Denim and Diamonds” on March 24th. On April 14th they present their Spring Concert “From the Age of Enlightenment” including Hayden’s Paukenmesse (War in the Time of Peace) and Mozart’s Requiem featuring full orchestra and soloists. Former members will be invited to participate in the Requiem performance. A special event to honor Steven Finch will follow and a Meet and Greet for the new director is planned sometime in May or June. All details can be found on our website www.huntingtonchoralsociety.org.

An emotional few months lie ahead for the Huntington Choral Society. Steven Finch has been an integral force for many years and will surely be missed but there is excitement in the air to see what the future will bring and the Choral Society has taken the necessary steps to be ready for it.