Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra

The New-York based, Grammy Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, which boasts more than seventy records and nearly fifty dedicated compositions, has been one of the world's most significant chamber orchestras ever since its foundation in 1972. Working on a democratic basis without a conductor, they regularly perform at Carnegie Hall and have toured nearly every continent.

The American Classical Orchestra celebrates classical music performance on authentic instruments, specializing in repertoire from the 17th to 19th centuries. Founded by music director Thomas Crawford in 1985 as the Orchestra of the Old Fairfield Academy, the Orchestra works to render more faithfully music of the Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic eras. In 1999, the orchestra's name was changed to American Classical Orchestra. Interested in reviving and preserving the art of playing period instruments, the American Classical Orchestra also fosters the education of musicians and the public in authentic performance technique. Comprised of leading period instrumentalists in the New York metropolitan region, the Orchestra has achieved significant critical acclaim through its performances and its professional recordings in New York City and Connecticut. The ACO has recorded the complete Mozart wind concerti, using its principal players as soloists. These three compact discs, mark the first comprehensive survey of the Mozart wind concerti by an American period-instrument ensemble and conductor. The American Classical Orchestra has appeared in the Lincoln Center Great Performers Series. In December 2000 the Orchestra made its debut at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in a program specially designed for the exhibition "Art and the Empire City: New York, 1825-1861."

Formed in 1994, the New Choral Society is an all-auditioned, volunteer chorus of 48 singers from Westchester County who rehearse weekly for two hours, from September through May. We offer three choral concert programs each season, two performances of each, accompanied by a professional orchestra and professional soloists. Read more in our History. The Conductor: Dr. John T. King, Artistic Director and Conductor, founded The New Choral Society in 1994. He has performed and guest conducted for several American Guild of Organists workshops and choral festivals. He has been responsible for two choral commissions from Stephen Paulus, Mass for Chorus and Orchestra and You Shall Love for chorus and organ, having conducted their world premieres. Dr. King has worked with renowned conductors Dennis Keene, Gregg Smith, Joseph Flummerfelt and Vance George, and conducted the Gregg Smith Singers and the Adirondack Chamber Orchestra. His CD recordings include Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Requiem, Bach's Cantata No. 147 Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, Haydn's Utrecht Te Deum, Gounod's St. Cecilia Mass, Brahms' Requiem and the world premiere recording of Paulus' Mass. Equally accomplished as an organist, Dr. King has given concerts throughout the United States and Europe. His performances have been heard in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, St. John the Divine, New York City, and St. James' Cathedral, Chicago. He currently serves as full-time Minster of Music at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, Scarsdale, where he administers and conducts the multiple choir program. Dr. King holds a bachelor of music degree from University of Louisville, a master of music degree from Yale University and doctor of musical arts from Manhattan School of Music, all in organ. He has been the recipient of a number of prizes in organ performance, and serves as an adjunct lecturer at Concordia College, Bronxville, New York. He is active in many service organizations as a member of Chorus America, American Choral Directors Association, Choristers Guild, and American Guild of Organists. He served as a former Dean of the Westchester Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and served as a member of the Music Committee of Yale Westchester Alumni Association.