Help send our choir to sing in London's historic Cathedrals

Our boys and girls choir of the “Little Church Around the Corner” in New York City has been invited to perform at historic cathedrals around London this summer.

We’re so grateful for the opportunity to bring our music to audiences around London! Listening to the children sing, you can’t help but experience positive feelings of peace, joy, and hope. We certainly need more of that in today’s world.

Please help us make this trip a reality with your generous donation!

Who’s going?

Right now, we have 15 young choristers who will be part of the trip. Visiting and singing in London will be a life-enriching experience for the kids. For many, it will be their first time outside the U.S.

The singers and families that make up our choir community come from diverse backgrounds and ages. They hail from various neighborhoods in the New York metro area and from other countries around the world. We have choir members whose families originally come from China, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mexico, and elsewhere. How cool is that!

What’s the schedule?

The choir will perform at cathedrals in and around London on the following dates:

All performances are free and open to the public.

What will my donation pay for?

Your donation will cover part of the cost of transportation, lodging, and meals for the choristers. All other expenses will be paid for by the choristers’ parents and the Little Church.

Meet Claudia, our amazing choir director!

Our choir is led by Dr. Claudia Dumschat, our amazing music director, choirmaster, and organist. Claudia has a long and distinguished career as an organist and choral conductor. She’s been described as “one of the most gifted and accomplished organists and choral conductors of her generation.” She’s been with the Little Church since 1999.

Although she’s recognized as an outstanding artist herself, Claudia is also uniquely gifted at working with people of all levels of ability, from children to some of New York’s top professional singers and musicians. For more information, you can visit Claudia’s website here.

www.claudiadumschat.com

‘The Little Church’ and its choir

Founded in 1848, the Church of the Transfiguration, a.k.a. “The Little Church Around the Corner,” located on 29th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues in Manhattan, is dedicated to serving the needs of poor and marginalized people in our community. The church has a remarkable history.

During the Draft Riots of the Civil War, the church sheltered African American families. The church also served as a station on the Underground Railroad and opened one of the first Sunday Schools for African American children in New York City. Today, the church embraces and welcomes all people, irrespective of race, class, gender, etc.

The church’s music program is also historic. The church formed a Choir of Men and Boys soon after its founding; it is the oldest such choir in America. The choir program has since expanded to include women and girls. The choristers sing in Sunday services, concerts, and special events. Many professional musicians got their start with the choir.

Please visit us in New York City!

If you’re in Manhattan, please come visit The Little Church Around the Corner!

The church is a New York City landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of the most serene and beautiful spots in the city.

We offer live music performances year-round, including many public concerts and mid-day music concerts during certain times of the year. Concerts are free or low cost and open to the public. They are often live-streamed and available to view on YouTube.

We appreciate your support for our upcoming trip to London. Thank you!