Annual Reports

2016-2017

The Voices of Ascension Concert Series continues to provide “magnificently polished” (NYTimes) performances of choral masterworks, like Bach’s St. John Passion or Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, and immersive and unique performances like Spain: Granados, Falla, and Modernisme. Through the Young Artists Program, Voices of Ascension creates performance opportunities for emerging solo artists to work with our gifted, professional ensemble. Additionally, we continue to develop our administrative capacity through new hires and initiatives through new hires and professional collaborations.

Organizational growth defined the season for the administrative staff at Voices of Ascension. We completed a strategic planning process with the support of the New York Council of Nonprofits and received a New York State Council for the Arts grant which allowed us to create a new staff position supporting marketing and strategic partnerships.These two initiatives helped to set goals for Voices of Ascension’s future and generous contributions of time, money and hospitality are actualizing those goals. In 2018, we are pleased to present concerts supported by the Auckland Castle Trust and the Secular Society and we hope you enjoy them!

In 2016-2017, the Young Artist Program at Voices of Ascension featured new voices and returning audience favorites. Voices of Ascension continues its commitment to present emerging soloists in choral and oratorio performance under the guidance of Dennis Keene.

Along with the talented and virtuosic Voices of Ascension ensemble, thirteen Young Artists impressed us with their music- making. Jared Bybee began our season with a stunning performance at the Candlelight Christmas Concert. Next came the Austria concert with Pureum Jo, Mindy Ella Chu, Matthew Swenson and Adam Lau. The Spanish concert featured returning soprano Vanessa Vasquez, as well as Violinist Francesca DePasquale and pianist Vanessa Perez. Derek Chester, Sarah Shafer, Avery Amerau, Gene Stenger, and Alan Dunbar brought down the house at Bach’s St. John Passion. We thank our soloists for their excellent work, and our donors who help sponsor their performances.

In February of 2017, Voices of Ascension celebrated the centenary of Enric Granados in collaboration with the CUNY Foundation for Iberian Music, The Hispanic Society, the Government of Catalonia, the Farragut Fund, the Sorel Organization, and the Consulate General of Spain in New York, with a performance for chorus, soprano, violin, piano, and organ. Pianist and Granados scholar, Douglas Riva, once again returned to work with Dennis Keene on this exciting performance. In order to bring this work to a larger audience, Voices of Ascension collaborated with Dr.Antoni Pizá at the CUNY Foundation for Iberian Music to present an concert preview. There, Riva, Pizá, Keene, along with the soloists for this concert sent attendees on a fascinating historical journey through scholarship and sonority. This event would not have been possible without the continued support of Board Member Roberta Huber and the Hispanic Society.

2015-2016

The Voices of Ascension Concert Series continues to provide “magnificently polished” (NYTimes) performances of choral masterworks, like our Bach & Vivaldi Concert or Duruflé Requiem, and exciting premieres like the Sorel Medallion Composition Contest winners. Through the Young Artists Program, Voices of Ascension creates performance opportunities for emerging solo artists to work with our gifted, professional ensemble. The Voices of Ascension Conductor Academy provides opportunities for selected conductors to work in a concentrated master class setting with Dennis Keene and Voices of Ascension Chorus and Chamber Orchestra.

Our April concert Serenade to Music featured debut performances from the Sorel Medallion Composition Contest and stunning repertoire from the British Isles. WQXR’s Elliott Forrest introduced the winners alongside Sorel Organization President Judy Cope, and awarded First Place to Martha Sullivan’s Shakespeare’s Throat and Second Place to Jocelyn Hagen’s Ophelia. Voices of Ascension frequently collaborates with the Sorel Organization, whose mission aims to keep musical excellence alive and open opportunities for women in composition, conducting, piano, voice and film scoring.

The 2015-2016 season saw the expansion of the Voices of Ascension Young Artist program, an initiative that began in 2013 to present emerging soloists in choral and oratorio performance under the guidance of Dennis Keene.

This season a dozen Young Artists enchanted audiences alongside the Voices of Ascension chorus and orchestra. Soprano Vanessa Vasquez, winner of multiple awards at the AVA Bel Cantio competition, dazzled at our Candlelight Christmas and Duruflé Concerts. The popular Bach and Vivaldi concert featured audience favorites Elizabeth Baber Weaver, Teresa Buchholz, Hai- Ting Chinn, Heather Petrie, Molly Quinn, and Steven Soph. Fresh from performances at Juilliard and the Metropolitan Opera, Avery Amereau sang her first Duruflé Requiem with Voices of Ascension. Serenade to Music showcased the talents of Metropolitan Opera regular Jennifer Johnson Cano and innovative violinist Elizabeth Fayette.

June 6-10 marked the second annual Conductor Academy, a training program that invites 12 conductors to Voices of Ascension for a week of intensive lessons, master classes, and coaching. This year, participants traveled from across the United States and Canada to attend. Each conducting fellow works with the Voices of Ascension ensemble and Dennis Keene to develop musical understanding and expression. Voices of Ascension also welcomed twelve auditors to observe the academy free of charge, helping to support the exciting mission of this program.

Voices of launched the celebration of the 25th anniversary season with the first-ever Gala and Benefit Concert. This season saw sold out performances of the Faure Requiem and music of the Russian Orthodox Tradition as well as the Mozart Requiem and Coronation Mass, the perennial favorite Candlelight Christmas Concert, a Choral Celebration of Voices of Ascension’s greatest hits and a Renaissance concert.

The 2014-2015 season also launched Voices of Ascension’s first annual Conductor Academy.

There have been several changes to accounting practices in the FY14 Voices of Ascension audit and annual report.

First, administrative expense has increased because the value of in-kind office, rehearsal and performance space rent valued at $65,700 is being recorded for the first time.

Second, temporarily restricted assets are subscription ticket sales for the following season, recorded at the end of the current fiscal year.

Following several seasons featuring artistic collaborations in multiple venues, 2012-2013 was an opportunity to reconnect with core repertoire. Voices of Ascension's New York season included two Candlelight Christmas concerts, "Austria" (music of Mozart, Haydn, Schubert), the second year of our Bach Initiative: St. John Passion, a commission by Eve Beglarian as well as Sorel Medallion composers and major Renaissance works by Palestrina and Victoria. Income was down slightly due to fewer performances.

The board adopted fiscal management policies to protect Voices of Ascension from losses in investment income following a significant loss in FY12. Thanks to a grant received from the Jeniam Foundation, we were able to hire a full-time Marketing and Development Associate. Our former Operations Manager transitioned to a part-time Production Manager role.

The 2013-2014 concert season was announced at the May 2013 concert, enabling subscription sales to begin before the new fiscal year and resulting in temporarily restricted income of $29,409.

2008-2009

2008-2009 was a strong year for Voices of Ascension in terms of program, attendance, and earned income. A new Executive Director was brought on, and with the Operations Manager providing support through managing the box office/ticket sales and production support, the Executive Director was able to focus approximately 35% of the time on development. The organization did, however, suffer in contributed income from the economic downturn, as revealed in a dramatic decrease in investment value. This reduction in donations from individuals was offset by a generous final gift from the Cary Trust of $150,000.

2007-2008

In 2007, Voices of Ascension functioned without an Executive Director. During the search to fill this position, the Artistic Director and Operations Manager worked with part-time box office and office help. Certain fundraising and marketing functions were reduced for the season. However, a ticket handling fee was instituted and CD sales increased significantly, boosting earned income revenue.

In 2008, Voices of Ascension hired a new Executive Director. She was able to focus approximately 35% of her time on development and the Operations Manager was able to focus on box office/ticket sales and production support.

Also 2008, Voices of Ascension instituted a ticket handling fee and increased CD sales significantly.