W83 Newsletter Feature December 2019

"A Beautiful Connection" | The SymphoNYChorus

Interview with Henric Ingeström, founder and conductor of The SymphoNYChorus

How did you decide to found The SymphonNYChorus?

In 2008, I’d just moved to the city from Canada, and my wife was studying at Manhattan School of Music, doing a Classical Vocal Performance Masters. My skill is conducting, so I decided to build something that was unique in NYC: a choir and orchestra that was non-denominational, all people from all different Christian denominations, who would do concerts around the tri-state area. New York City is wonderful but can also be very lonely, so I wanted to create a place where musicians of faith can come together, make music, and build community and musical excellence at the same time.
 

Who has joined The SymphoNYChorus?

Catholic, Pentecostal, Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist -- a wide gamut. We’ve said, "if you’re fine with being part of this group and want to sing and play excellent music, you’re welcome to come." In this world where there’s polarization and different points of view, we can all come and sing together.
 

How has The SymphoNYChorus grown over the years?

At our first rehearsal, we had eight people. Today, The SymphoNYChorus is composed of between fifty and sixty musicians. We’ve toured Canada, Chicago, Philly and Boston. We just took a tour over to the UK in July, and have recorded several albums. And we’ve also built a community. If someone is hurting, we grieve with people, and support them when they’re going through a hard time. And celebrate people who have met each other in the group and had a family. Now, across America and the world, there are all kinds of musicians who were with us for a time. There’s been a beautiful connection.
 

How are The SymphoNYChorus shows different?

We're all volunteers with high standards, and we do everything: not just classical, but gospel, acapella, pop, spirituals. We want to do it all excellently. And we’re a very lively group, so I harp on them to be passionate about the way they sing and the way they play. They mean what they sing and mean what they play, so our concerts are very engaged.
 

What are you looking forward to about this year’s "Light Has Come" concert?

Christmas at W83 is the highlight of our year. It’s a beautiful sanctuary, and we sound great in it, with the great acoustics. We’ll be onstage with the choir and the orchestra, and then come into the pews and sing acapella in the audience. I was brought up Swedish, and at Christmas, my mom would put out a Smorgasboard of delicacies: some meat, and some cheeses, and some fun desserts, and we were able to choose. It’ll be like that: a wide variety of music, and we hope people will come out feeling the spirit of Christmas and be blessed.