Voices of Ascension Announces 2025-2026 Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Katlyn Morahan | Morahan Arts and Media
katlyn@morahanartsandmedia.com | 646-378-9386

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Voices of Ascension Announces 2025-2026 Season

Candlelight Christmas Concerts - December 16, 18 & 20, 2025
Brahms, Kodály & Duruflé - February 5, 2026
Monteverdi Vespers of 1610 - March 5, 2026
Masters of the Renaissance: The Netherlands School -
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Featured Guest Conductor: Beth Willer - May 21, 2026

“richly colored, impressive, and beautifully balanced” –Wall Street Journal

“a dynamic concert […] beautifully sung” –I Care If You Listen

www.voicesofascension.org 

May 13, 2025 (New York, NY) — Voices of Ascension, the New York City-based professional chorus dedicated to sharing the transformative power of choral music through performances, commissions, and community engagement, announces its 2025-2026 season. Through a blend of contemporary and historical repertoire, Voices of Ascension fills its 36th season with music from the Renaissance to rarely-heard works by Brahms, Kodály, and Duruflé as they continue to celebrate the breadth of classical choral music while fostering the next generation of artists and music-lovers.

“This season reflects everything I love about choral music—its power to connect us across centuries, cultures, and emotions,” shares Dennis Keene, Artistic Director and Conductor. “From the radiant complexity of Renaissance polyphony to rarely-heard masterworks by Brahms, Kodály, and Duruflé, we’re offering a deep, wide-ranging musical journey. It’s a profound privilege to bring this repertoire to life with Voices of Ascension and our extraordinary collaborators.”

After two seasons of sold out holiday concerts, Voices of Ascension brings back its Candlelight Christmas Concerts on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., with a new family-friendly performance added on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. at Church of the Ascension. A treasured holiday tradition, these concerts feature a vibrant mix of ancient carols, seasonal masterworks, and contemporary reflections on winter and light—offering warmth, beauty, and community at year’s end.

On Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at Church of the Ascension, Voices presents rarely-heard works from three master composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Featured are Brahms’s Nänie, a setting of Friedrich Schiller’s meditation on mortality that glows with warm Romantic textures and dignified grace, and Kodály’s Psalmus Hungaricus, composed in 1923 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Budapest’s unification that merges Hungarian folk idioms with searing biblical lament. Both works are presented with brand new transcriptions by Voices’s Founding Artistic Director and Conductor, Dennis Keene, especially made for The Manton Memorial Organ - the first French-built pipe organ ever installed in New York City located in the Church of the Ascension. Scored for orchestra and a chorus of 30 baritones in unison, Duruflé’s masterpiece Messe ‘cum jubilo’ will receive its third performance ever with orchestra in New York City. The work intertwines Gregorian chant with the composer’s signature harmonic refinement, and this performance carries special significance: Keene was a protégé of both Maurice and Marie-Madeleine Duruflé, and, with this lineage, stands among the world’s foremost interpreters of Duruflé’s music, offering a performance both historically rooted and emotionally profound.

In collaboration with Dark Horse Consort, Voices performs Monteverdi Vespers of 1610 on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at Church of the Ascension. With a fleet of soloists, double chorus, Early Music strings, recorders, cornetti, sackbuts, theorbos, harpsichord and organ, Dark Horse Consort and Voices of Ascension join forces in a thrilling intersection of scholarship and expressive brilliance for this pillar of Early Baroque music. Vespers of 1610 is rarely performed at such a large scale—featuring multiple choirs, a full roster of period instruments, and soloists—especially in a sacred acoustic like the Church of the Ascension.

Building on their acclaimed recordings, such as Beyond Chant: Mysteries of the Renaissance, Voices of Ascension continues to illuminate the depth and beauty of Renaissance choral music with Masters of the Renaissance: The Netherlands School on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at Church of the Ascension. With works spanning more than two centuries of history, starting with the Early Renaissance master, Josquin des Prez, and going all the way to the High Renaissance works of Orlande de Lassus, this concert reaffirms the ensemble's dedication to bringing historical masterpieces to contemporary audiences with authenticity and passion. Also featured are seldom heard, but exceptionally poetic and colorful motets of Dutch composer, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck. 

For the final concert of the season on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at Church of the Ascension, Beth Willer—Founder and Artistic Director of Lorelei Ensemble and Director of Choral Studies at the Peabody Institute—leads Voices of Ascension in a blend of contemporary and historical repertoire.

“It’s an exciting time to be part of Voices of Ascension. This season reflects everything we value about choral music—its ability to hold beauty and complexity, tradition and innovation, all at once,” remarks Jonathan Bradley, Executive Director. “At a moment when so many forces pull us apart, these concerts offer something different: a chance to come together through music that honors human dignity, shared memory, and the search for meaning. By looking back on the past with fresh eyes and investing in the voices of the future, we hope to create space for reflection—and perhaps, in some small way, help us find our way back to one another.”

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Program Information
Candlelight Christmas Concerts
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. 
Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.
Church of the Ascension | 36 Fifth Avenue at 10th St. | New York, NY 10011
Link: https://www.voicesofascension.org/candlelight-christmas-concerts-2025

Program:
A vibrant mix of ancient carols, seasonal masterworks, and contemporary reflections on winter and light
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Brahms, Kodály, & Duruflé
Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Church of the Ascension | 36 Fifth Avenue at 10th St. | New York, NY 10011
Link: https://www.voicesofascension.org/bkd26

Program:
Brahms - Nänie  
Kodály - Psalmus Hungaricus 
Duruflé - Messe ‘cum Jubilo’
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Monteverdi Vespers of 1610
Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Church of the Ascension | 36 Fifth Avenue at 10th St. | New York, NY 10011
Link: https://www.voicesofascension.org/monteverdi26

Program:
Monteverdi - Vespers of 1610

Artists:
Voices of Ascension
Dark Horse Consort
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Masters of the Renaissance: The Netherlands School
Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Church of the Ascension | 36 Fifth Avenue at 10th St. | New York, NY 10011
Link: https://www.voicesofascension.org/josquin26

Program:
A cappella choral music from the “Golden Age of Choral Music.”
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Featured Guest Conductor: Beth Willer
Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Church of the Ascension | 36 Fifth Avenue at 10th St. | New York, NY 10011
Link: https://www.voicesofascension.org/willer26

Program:
A blend of contemporary and historical repertoire.

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Ticket Information
Subscriptions for the 2025–2026 season are currently on sale. Single tickets for 2025–2026 performances go on sale on September 8.

About Voices of Ascension 
Voices of Ascension is one of New York City’s premier professional choral ensembles, dedicated to presenting masterworks for chorus and orchestra at the highest artistic level. Founded in 1990 by Artistic Director Dennis Keene, Voices has built an international reputation for its exquisite choral artistry, innovative programming, and commitment to expanding the choral canon.

Performances by the Grammy-nominated ensemble have been praised as “richly colored, impressive, and beautifully balanced” (Wall Street Journal) and “inspired” (The New York Times). The ensemble’s landmark Duruflé Festival, the first-ever complete retrospective of the composer’s works, established Voices as a leader in presenting comprehensive explorations of major choral composers. Since then, Voices of Ascension has continued to champion both historical and contemporary repertoire, with a special commitment to new music, including commissions and premieres—particularly by female composers—in partnership with the Sorel Organization.

Throughout its 35-year history, Voices of Ascension has produced an acclaimed annual concert series, released multiple Grammy-nominated recordings, and engaged in artistic collaborations with the San Francisco Symphony, Mostly Mozart Festival, José Limón Dance, the Mark Morris Dance Group, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and others. The ensemble has also been a longtime partner of The Church of the Ascension, home to the Manton Memorial Organ, the only French-built organ in the United States and a direct link to Voices’ deep engagement with French sacred music traditions.

The organization plays an important role in mentoring emerging artists through its Voices of Promise program, which has supported over 50 young professional vocal soloists, and in creating community connections through Voices of Experience, an initiative bringing choral music to NYC’s senior centers.

About Dennis Keene
Dennis Keene is Artistic Director and Conductor of the Voices of Ascension. Known internationally through his many concerts and recordings with Voices of Ascension as well as his regular guest appearances as conductor and teacher, he is one of the leading choral conductors in the world today.

Recognized early as an exceptional organist, Dennis Keene studied at The Juilliard School, where he earned the BM, MM, and DMA degrees and the coveted Gaston Dethier Organ Prize as a student of Vernon de Tar. Dr. Keene also studied privately in Paris with Marie-Madeleine Duruflé, André Marchal, and André Isoir.

In addition to his work with Voices of Ascension, Dr. Keene continues as Organist and Choirmaster of Church of the Ascension in New York City. He served for many years on the Board of Directors of Chorus America, the national service organization for the choral field, which honored him with the first Louis Botto Award for “innovative action and entrepreneurial zeal in developing a professional ensemble of exceptional artistic quality.” He has also served on the Choral Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts and on the Music Panel of the New York State Council on the Arts.

From 1998 to 2003 Maestro Keene presented a major summer institute for the training of conductors and singers: The Dennis Keene Choral Festival, in Kent, Connecticut. In 1993 he began his recording association with Delos International, with which he has recorded such best-selling CD’s as Beyond Chant, the Duruflé Album, and the Berlioz Te Deum. This series of highly acclaimed recordings with Voices of Ascension has secured international recognition for both conductor and chorus and become the standard for first-ranked ensembles worldwide.

About Beth Willer
Noted for her “directorial command” and “technical expertise" and commitment to the contemporary vocal art, Founder and Artistic Director Beth Willer has led Lorelei Ensemble since 2007 to become recognized as one of the country’s most highly regarded vocal ensembles. A champion of contemporary music, Willer has collaborated with composers from the U.S. and abroad, leading Lorelei and other ensembles under her leadership in numerous world, U.S., and regional premieres, including works by David Lang, Julia Wolfe, George Benjamin, Kati Agócs, Lisa Bielawa, Kareem Roustom, Jessica Meyer, Sungji Hong, Reiko Yamada, Peter Gilbert, Scott Ordway, and John Supko. As a conductor and recognized leader of vocal ensembles, Willer has been invited to lead performances featuring Bang on a Can All-Stars, Seraphic Fire, New York Baroque, and Roomful of Teeth, and has prepared ensembles for performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, Cantus, A Far Cry, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and Odyssey Opera.

Willer is Associate Professor and Director of Choral Studies at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, where she leads vocal ensembles and is designing the conservatory's new graduate degree in choral conducting. Previous work includes academic appointments at Bucknell University, Harvard University, and Boston Conservatory, and preparations for conductors of the Boston Symphony, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and Odyssey Opera. A passionate educator and conductor of young artists, Willer has led ensembles at Boston University's Tanglewood Institute, Walnut Hill School, New England Conservatory’s Preparatory School, and Boston Arts Academy. A versatile and vibrant clinician, Willer also enjoys work as a guest conductor for student and professional ensembles alike.

Willer holds degrees from Boston University (D.M.A. and M.M.) and Luther College (B.A.). Her teachers include Ann Howard Jones, Scott Metcalfe, Weston Noble, Jameson Marvin, and Mark Shapiro.

About Jonathan Bradley
Jonathan Bradley brings over 25 years of experience in New York City’s vibrant cultural landscape, committed to innovation, strategic growth, and impactful collaborations.

Jonathan most recently served as Executive Director of The Crossing, where he led the ensemble through five transformational seasons, sustainably doubling its production output and budget. Over his six years there, Jonathan executive produced 12 album releases, 24 commissioned world premieres, two international choral-theater projects, and significant collaborations with Carnegie Hall, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. During this time, The Crossing won three Grammy Awards and nine nominations. In 2023, The Crossing was recognized as Musical America’s Ensemble of the Year, solidifying its position as one of the most innovative choirs in the United States.

Notable projects during Jonathan’s tenure at The Crossing included Month of Moderns 2021, a post-COVID city-wide summer festival for socially distant, amplified choir which featured world premieres by David Lang, Matana Roberts, Wang Lu, and Ayanna Woods; Ted Hearne’s Farming, The Crossing’s second international choral theater project, which appeared at The Big Sing Festival in Haarlem, Netherlands, with an additional U.S. performance at Caramoor; Fire in my mouth and unEarth, world premieres by Julia Wolfe in 2019 and 2023 with the New York Philharmonic in David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center; and Vespers of the Blessed Earth, a John Luther Adams world premiere with the Philadelphia Orchestra at Verizon Hall in Philadelphia and Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Jonathan’s career also includes a decade-long tenure at Carnegie Hall, where he founded the Hall’s first cross-departmental Customer Experience Committee, which enhanced audience engagement across all customer touchpoints. He co-founded Carnegie Hall’s social media program and co-produced the Hall’s first viral video in collaboration with Charlie Todd and ImprovEverywhere. Since its release, “Conduct Us” has been viewed over 4 million times and inspired musical ensembles worldwide.

As Chief Marketing Officer at Primephonic, recently re-released as Apple Classical, Jonathan successfully merged classical music with digital innovation. His collaboration with the Bang on a Can All-Stars and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra demonstrated how contemporary classical artists could leverage digital platforms to expand their reach and engage new audiences.

Jonathan’s journey in the arts began at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he earned a BFA in Theater, later leading to an MBA from CUNY Baruch Zicklin School of Business. Recognized for his deep commitment to impactful, purpose-driven, non-profit leadership, Jonathan has been an invited speaker at notable institutions, including Yale, Columbia, and NYU.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jonathan is a founding board member of Diamond Way Buddhist Centers USA and an international lecturer in this tradition. Over the past 25 years, he has given talks and led workshops across the U.S., Europe, Russia, China, Japan, and New Zealand. From 2008 to 2018, Jonathan served as President of the New York City Center on Park Avenue South, and from 2003 to 2019 served as Executive Co-Editor of the internationally circulated Buddhism Today Magazine.

About Dark Horse Consort
The early music ensemble Dark Horse Consort is dedicated to unearthing the majestic late Renaissance and early Baroque repertoire for brass instruments. Inspired by the bronze horse statues in Venice’s famed St. Mark’s Basilica, the ensemble brings to new life the glorious sounds of composers such as Giovanni Gabrieli, Claudio Monteverdi, and Heinrich Schütz. Dark Horse often expands to include vocalists and strings to recreate the rapturous kaleidoscope that was the sound of the early 17th-century ensemble.

Dark Horse Consort has been featured on the San Francisco Early Music Series, the Boston Early Music Festival, the Renaissance and Baroque Society (Pittsburgh), and The Academy of Early Music (Ann Arbor), and numerous venues throughout North America, including collaborations with vocal and instrumental groups such as The Toronto Consort, Blue Heron (Boston), The Rose Ensemble (Minneapolis), Piffaro (Philadelphia), TENET (NYC), Spire (Kansas City), Catacoustic Consort (Cincinnati), Bach Society Houston, Bach Collegium San Diego, Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity Lutheran (NYC), Seicento Baroque (Boulder), and the Clarion Music Society (NYC). Upcoming performances include Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers with TENET and the Green Mountain Project in Venice, Italy, and a featured concert on the Chamber Music Northwest series in Portland, Oregon.

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