Mission:
New England Classical Singers is dedicated to the enrichment of the human spirit through its pursuit of choral excellence and educational outreach.

Under the masterful direction of Artistic Director David Hodgkins, New England Classical Singers is an auditioned choral chamber ensemble of 30+ voices. Founded in 1968 as the North Reading Choral Society, NECS is now based in Andover, MA, drawing its members from communities of the Merrimack Valley and beyond.

NECS opens the concert season with its annual December Concert, performed with chamber orchestra and guest soloists. Concerts in late winter and early spring, respectively, consist of repertoire that spans the Renaissance to the present and ranges from a cappella madrigals, partsongs, and American spirituals to major choral works.

Educational Outreach:
New England Classical Singers is committed to the community we serve, and the organization works to give back through a variety of local efforts, including workshops, classes and guest speakers.

Collaboration and educational outreach have been cornerstones of NECS’ mission since its inception. Its most notable outreach program is its joint collaboration with the Lawrence High School Girls Ensemble under the direction Nancy McGhee. Often, this is the first time local students are exposed to such challenging material, and it has been incredibly rewarding for all parties to work together to master complex works of music. This program gives high school students the opportunity to work with renowned soloists and guest artists, and learn from their teachings along with lessons from our esteemed Artistic Director, David Hodgkins.

Artistic Director:
David Hodgkins has served as Artistic Director of the New England Classical Singers since his appointment in 1999. During his more than 20 years as an integral part of the greater Boston music scene, he has delighted audiences with “creative programs, sung with enthusiasm and tonal beauty” (Ed Tapper, Bay Windows). Mr. Hodgkins is also the Artistic Director of Coro Allegro in Boston, which Boston Globe critic Michael Manning deemed “one of Boston’s most accomplished choruses”. Among his many appointments, Mr. Hodgkins serves as Director of Music at The Commonwealth School in Boston, teaches advanced conducting at the New England Conservatory of Music through the Kodaly Music Institute, and is the conductor in residence of the Kodaly Music Institutes at NEC and Wichita State University in Kansas. He has also served on the faculties of UMass/Amherst, Temple University, and Clark University.

Auditions:
New England Classical Singers is a highly accomplished choral ensemble of 30+ voices that performs significant choral works from a variety of centuries and styles. Voice parts of choir are Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass. Auditions for prospective members are held twice a year–early September and mid-December–or by appointment. Singers should possess excellent musicianship skills including strong sight reading skills. The audition consists of a vocal warm-up, aural memory and pitch differentiation exercises, and sight reading. No prepared piece necessary.