CantaNYC’s Story

CantaNYC was founded in 2018 by conductor Claude Lévy…

after he moved from Béziers, France to New York City. Maestro Levy chose the group’s name to echo of that of his French chorus La Cantarela, which he began in Béziers in 1975 and led for more than a quarter of a century.

CantaNYC was initially formed to participate in David Lang’s 2018 Mile-Long Opera, a hugely successful public engagement project featuring multiple choruses including more than 1,000 singers from across New York City.

With such an auspicious and enjoyable start, the group decided to stay together after its first project, and we incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization in October 2018.

Our mission states that we are a progressive and eclectic chorus that performs classic and contemporary choral works, both acapella and accompanied, with an emphasis on new commissions and positive social messaging.

Since Covid, we have taken on a mission of partnering with community organizations without a member chorus or choir but who would like one for a single concert or ongoing series of consorts. Along with our highly accomplished conductor Maestro Lévy, our core of experienced singer-members is available to participate in rehearsals.

We are currently plannning our 2023–2024 season, Stay tuned for updates!

Please email Board president Judy Sterio at president@cantanyc.org if you’d like more information about joining the group or know of an organization that might like to partner with us.