Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia

Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, now in its 152nd season under Artistic Director & Conductor Dominick DiOrio, stands as one of America's most enduring and distinguished musical institutions. Originally founded in 1874 as an eight-part male chorus by William Wallace Gilchrist, a major figure in 19th-century Philadelphia music, the chorus has evolved into a world-class ensemble of over 150 voices representing diverse ages, backgrounds, genders, and professions. Since its inception, the chorus has beautifully balanced tradition with innovation, presenting beloved classics while fearlessly championing new works and cross-genre collaborations.

The chorus's longstanding partnership with The Philadelphia Orchestra, dating back to the orchestra's founding in 1900, underscores its integral role in Philadelphia's rich musical landscape. This relationship has produced numerous historic performances, including the 1904 performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, the 1927 world premiere of Rachmaninoff's "Three Russian Songs," and American premieres of Mahler's "Symphony of a Thousand" (1916) and Schoenberg's "Gurrelieder" (1932). Throughout its history, the chorus has collaborated with legendary conductors, including Leopold Stokowski, Eugene Ormandy, Claudio Abbado, Zubin Mehta, Mstislav Rostropovich, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Riccardo Muti, and most recently Fabio Luisi.

Mendelssohn Chorus has been at the forefront of introducing groundbreaking works to American audiences, from the Philadelphia premiere of Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem, the first U.S. performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 8, and the North American premiere of Mendelssohn's version of Bach's St. Matthew's Passion. The chorus has commissioned over 100 works from contemporary composers including Rollo Dilworth, Jennifer Higdon, David Lang, Caroline Shaw, and Melissa Dunphy demonstrating its commitment to expanding the choral repertoire.

The chorus's unwavering commitment to excellence has earned prestigious accolades, including multiple ASCAP/Chorus America Awards for Adventurous Programming (1992, 2013) and a GRAMMY nomination for the 1985 recording of Vincent Persichetti's Winter Cantata. Most notably, the chorus’s commission of Julia Wolfe’s Anthracite Fields received the 2015 Pulitzer Prize in Music—a groundbreaking work that exemplifies their dedication to commissioning transformative contemporary music.

Beyond performances, the Mendelssohn Chorus serves as an incubator for emerging talent through its section leader and apprenticeship programs. The recently launched Joyful Abundance commissioning program specifically supports emerging composers and poets, furthering the chorus's mission to foster artistry, beauty, and belonging within Philadelphia's cultural landscape. The chorus proudly hosted the Chorus America conference in 2019 and presented notable works including the Philadelphia premiere of Tan Dun's Water Passion after St. Matthew, Reena Esmail's This Love Between Us, and Sarah Kirkland Snider's Mass for the Endangered.

Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia remains dedicated to enriching the city's cultural fabric by illuminating our shared human experiences through the transformative power of choral music. The chorus continues to serve as a model for how artistic institutions can honor their heritage while embracing innovation, creating meaningful connections between past and present through the universal language of music.