History and Mission

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History

The Cornerstone Chorale was founded in 1990 by Tom Lloyd at the Cornerstone Center in Washington Heights, as a performing organization for neighborhood singers. In 1998, it was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization, and became eligible for wider grant funding. In 2010, the Cornerstone Chorale was named Ensemble in Residence at Holyrood Church, Washington Heights, where we continue to rehearse and perform today.

Since Richard Stout became Music Director in 1996, the chorale has presented spirited concerts each season. Highlights include:

  • Collaborations with the Third Street Music School Settlement Chamber Orchestra in concerts of the music of J.S. Bach.

  • Collaboration with West Village Chorale

  • Pinkham Christmas Cantata, with New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble

  • The Duruflé Requiem, performed at St. Elizabeth's Church.

  • A concert of Jewish music, including Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, reaching out to members of its largely Jewish neighborhood.

  • World Trade Center plaza concert 2000.

  • Performances at the Isabella Geriatric Center, and at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in events broadcast to patients throughout the center.

 

Mission

The Cornerstone Chorale is a neighborhood community chorus whose purpose is to bring classical choral music performances to the Washington Heights/Inwood area, where such live concert options are rare. Our organization serves the community in two ways: publicly, by offering high-quality performances at low ticket prices; and individually, by providing opportunities to members in the community to perform and/or contribute in other ways.