By JESSICA NEU
The 2026–2027 Mendelssohn Choir season is a combination of riveting and deeply personal pieces, the three-show season features the classic talent and entertainment of the famous Choir, while upholding the organization’s commitment to community engagement.
Before the beginning of its 118th season, I had the pleasure of speaking with Music Director Daniel Singer and Executive Director Cameron Gunsbury-Massey. Both gentlemen expressed their immense excitement for the rich and diverse artistry of the upcoming season, punctuated by three common themes: conflict, community, and grief. And despite recent discussions about downsizing or acquisitions among local theater organizations, Singer and Gunsbury-Massey remain passionate about their organization and the enduring need for community. “Regardless of what is happening around us, people still crave these shared spaces,” Singer stated. “Even though we are all consumed by the news and worried about everyday things like gas prices, people want to come together and see that they are not alone in their feelings.” Singer and Gunsbury-Massey talked about their unyielding passion for cultivating community and providing people with cathartic outlets for their daily emotions as their “civic duty.” It is this recognition of the need for service through the Arts that provides the foundation for the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.
The season begins with In Time of War on October 11, 2026. This piece is a commentary on violence, featuring works by composers spanning three centuries. “For better or worse, war has always been a part of our lives,” Singer said. While the reality of war may be unavoidable, In Time of War seeks to offer people a cathartic outlet for their emotions during this challenging temporal moment. Three distinct pieces come together to create In Time of War. First is Arvo Pärt’s “Da pacem Domine,” written in 2004 in commemoration of those lost to acts of terrorism. Next, Florence Price’s 1939 setting of Vachel Lindsay’s poem “Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight” imagines Lincoln’s restless ghost observing the start of World War I. Last is Franz Joseph Haydn’s 1796 piece, “Mass in Time of War,” which grapples with the turmoil that Austria faced as the French army advanced during the War of the First Coalition. “Coming together and realizing that there are so many other people who feel the same way that you do offers a deep sense of empowerment,” Singer continued. “Hopefully, people will use that sense of empowerment to engage in their own civic duties to help foster a sense of community after the show.”
Bringing audiences into the new year, CrosSING Bridges is a Community Singing Workshop slated for February 20, 2027. This program, which focuses on community engagement, will enter its third season. This season, the Mendelssohn choir CrosSING is a participatory singing workshop. Led by Dr. Herbert V.R.P. Jones, founder and director of the Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh, the singing workshop welcomes all community members. “The great part about the workshop is that everyone sings,” Gunsbury-Massey stated. “At any age and for any occasion, there is singing.” Again, with the distinct purpose of civic engagement, Singer and Gunsbury-Massey explained that the workshop offers people the chance to come together, experience a sense of community rooted in rich tradition, and rejoice in beautiful music.
In addition to expressing themselves through the shared space of singing, attendees can learn about the history of gospel music. Regardless of your familiarity with gospel music or level of vocal training, Singer and Gunsbury-Massey look forward to an experience filled with joyous music that once again unites the community in a way that is desperately needed at this time.
Finally, Eric Whitacre’s “The Sacred Veil” closes the season with a moving work dealing with Whitacre’s own grief. Written with poet Charles Anthony Silvestri, this 12-movement work tells the true story of Silvestri’s wife, Julie. Her heroic journey juxtaposes the joy of finding love with Silvestri and giving birth to a child with the immense sadness of being diagnosed and subsequently passing from ovarian cancer at age 36. who passed away from ovarian cancer at 36. Making its premiere in Pittsburgh, the piece includes works by Renaissance master Tomás Luis de Victoria and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw. “There’s a specific section in Erik’s piece that I am really excited for audiences to experience,” Singer said as he discussed the brilliance of this piece, hinting that its emotional profundity expressed through choral music is certain to make a lasting impact on audiences. “These are powerful pieces,” Singer explained. “This is not a show where people are going to leave and say, ‘That was pleasant, let’s go get ice cream. These pieces evoke emotions, will linger with audiences and hopefully make them think,” Singer continued. Gunsbury-Massey summarized the season with the notion of “hope.” These shows are thought-provoking and profound, but also meant to deliver a deep sense of hope to all who participate and to those who come to see any of these three pieces.
Singer’s and Gunsbury-Massey’s love and enthusiasm for the Choir is palpable as they discuss Mendelssohn’s legacy, but it also leaves them excited for their future. “We are the oldest choir in Pittsburgh,” Singer proudly stated. “And we still do not need to market. All we need to do is post that we are hosting auditions, and people are eager to sign up. We have everyone from recent college graduates to folks who have wanted to be a part of the choir for years and are now able to audition after they retired.” The legacy speaks for itself, and Gunsbury-Massey, a newcomer to the staff, explained that the choir is the “most welcoming group of people” he has had the privilege of working with. Their welcoming presence is apparent in the thoughtful programs the Choir is preparing for the upcoming season, but especially in the organization’s unwavering dedication to fulfilling its civic duty and strengthening the Pittsburgh community, one note at a time.
In addition to its dynamic season, the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh continues its long-standing tradition of partnering with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for the 2026–2027 season. Upcoming performances include:
- December 4 – 6, 2026 | Heinz Hall; Beethoven: Mass in C Major
- December 5, 2026 | Heinz Hall; Handel: Messiah
- December 11– 13; 18–20, 2026 | Heinz Hall; Highmark Holiday Pops
- February 12–14, 2027 | Heinz Hall; Orff: Carmina Burana
- March 11, 2027 | St. Vincent College; Beethoven: Christus am Ölberge
- April 17, 2027 | Heinz Hall; Mozart et al.: Amadeus
- June 25–27, 2027 | Heinz Hall; The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
For tickets and other information visit: https://www.themendelssohn.org
Categories: Arts and Ideas
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