Incorporated in 2010, the New Jersey Choral Consortium is an association created to help Garden State choral organizations develop and grow by sharing information, fostering cooperation and supporting choral arts education. The Consortium promotes public awareness, understanding and appreciation of choral music.

A Brief History of the New Jersey Choral Consortium

In 2008 several choruses in the Morris and Union County area came together to explore the idea of a choral consortium in New Jersey.  The group believed that such a consortium would serve as a forum where community choruses could meet, compare repertoire and concert dates, and work together so that all choruses would share information and learn from each other.  A task force was appointed to explore criteria for membership, recommend a name, and research information about incorporation. 

Follow-up meetings attracted additional choruses from other counties.  Participants agreed that the group should be as inclusive as possible, allowing all community choruses, including children’s choirs. The group also agreed that the Consortium should be conceived as a loose- knit statewide organization, breaking into smaller units geographically as appropriate for advertising, marketing, logistics, and so on.  The consortium was further defined, its mission and by-laws were written, and a web site set up over the course of the next two years. 

In September 2009, a board of directors was appointed, with three members to serve as initial officers of the organization:  as President, Steven A. Russell of the New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus; as Treasurer, Kathleen Hannan of Masterwork Chorus; and as Secretary, Rhoda Wolin of Coro Lirico.  The New Jersey Choral Consortium was incorporated in the state in March 2010 and achieved  501c3 status as a nonprofit corporation.

In November 2011, the Board elected officers Thomas Juneau of Summit Chorale as President; John Palatucci of the Orpheus Club Men's Chorus as Vice President; Kathleen Hannan of Masterwork Chorus as Treasurer; and Ed Nace of the Greater South Jersey Chorus as Secretary.

At the January 19, 2013 Annual Meeting, members elected Kathleen Hannan of Masterwork Chorus as President; Rhoda Wolin of Coro Lirico as Vice President; Laura Babcock of New Jersey Choral Society as Treasurer; and Ed Nace of the Greater South Jersey Chorus as Secretary.

Other members of the NJCC Board of Directors include:  Marina Alexander, Artistic Director of Arcadian Chorale;  Ruth Anderman, President of Cantabile Chamber Chorale; Thomas Juneau, Artistic Director of the Summit Chorale; John Palatucci, Artistic Director of the Orpheus Club Men's Chorus; and Steven Russell, Artistic Director of the New Jersey Gay Men's Chorus.

The consortium currently has 37 member choruses from all over New Jersey, representing choirs of all types and sizes—SATB, women’s, men’s, professional, and children’s choirs.  The consortium welcomes new members from choral groups statewide. Chorus representatives include chorus music directors, executive directors, board members and  members interested in fostering cooperation and collaboration among choruses..