Essential Voices USA

AUDITIONS for VOLUNTEER Singers for 2022-2023

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The members of EVUSA do exquisite work. . .

– The Huffington Post’’

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ABOUT ESSENTIAL VOICES USA

Judith Clurman’s Essential Voices USA (EVUSA) is one of New York’s preeminent choral ensembles. EVUSA performs in many of the city’s iconic venues and events, and records and premieres works by America’s finest composers and lyricists. The ensemble is comprised of a talented roster of seasoned professionals and auditioned volunteers, dynamically fitted to the unique needs of each project.  

EVUSA held a month-long residency at National Public Radio, performed for many years with The New York Pops in its Carnegie Hall subscription series, performed on NBC’s July 4^th Macy’s Fireworks Spectacular and at the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting and participated in President Obama’s Inaugural activities. On July 4, 2022, they performed Washington Women, the choral cycle they commissioned, on the National Public Radio Tiny Desk Concerts. They have recently performed in educational programs in the New York City schools.

The group has produced The Composer Speaks at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, a series of musical performances complemented by panel discussions with composers and lyricists. EVUSA has premiered works and collaborated with composers Milton Babbitt, Jason Robert Brown, David Chase, Shawn Crouch, Bill Cutter, Marvin Hamlisch, Rupert Holmes, Katie Jenkins, Sheldon Harnick, Jake Heggie, Jennifer Higdon, Andrew Lippa, Nico Muhly, Stephen Schwartz, David Shire, Howard Shore, Mark Sirett, James Sizemore, Georgia Stitt, and Jonathan Tunick. 

They have recorded with opera and musical theater luminaries, including Jamie Barton, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Kelli O’Hara. And their recordings include America at Heart, Celebrating the American Spirit, Appalachian Stories, Cherished Moments: Songs of the Jewish Spirit, Holiday Harmonies: Songs of Christmas, Cradle Hymn, May You Heal, Season of Light: Songs of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, New Year, Rejoice! Honoring the Jewish Spirit, Washington Women, Winter Harmonies, and Words Matter.

The group’s educational program, EVUSA Youth Workshop, has provided select high school students the opportunity to sing with the chorus on recordings and in concerts at Carnegie Hall.  They recorded Howard Shore’s work Peace, for the composer’s Palace Among Ruins recording, at the Washington National Cathedral, with the St. Albans School for Boys and National Cathedral School for Girls. They participated in anti-bullying workshops with choruses at the Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn, NY, where they studied the piece Testimony by Stephen Schwartz.  During the 2022-2023, EVUSA will release their Washington Women recording, return to Carnegie Hall, perform their Washington Women cycle at Lehmann College during International Women’s Month, record newly commissioned music, and collaborate in workshops and performances with high schools throughout New York State. 

EVUSA’s mission is threefold:

• Engage diverse audiences through dynamic programming and recordings, and by presenting new works that showcase composers and the art of composition;
• Entertain through innovative and soul-stirring performances;
• Enrich the lives of our singers, the New York community, and our audience-at-large by sharing our dedication to excellence and our deep love of music.

Contact: EssentialVoicesUSA (@) gmail.com
EVUSA Bio for Press is available here: EVUSA Bio Word Doc (Download) or EVUSA Bio PDF (Download)

To learn more about EVUSA and membership, find us on Facebook.

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“Judith Clurman’s febrile brainchild Essential Voices USA is exactly that—they provide a gorgeous canvas on which contemporary classical composers paint scenes depicting our lives today, much as the Dutch Masters did a few hundred years ago…”
– Q on Stage

“With gorgeous harmonies and soaring vocal chorale sounds, Essential Voices USA, conducted by Judith Clurman, is a mixed group of skilled singers who bring thoughtful and rich performances. . . there are glorious sounds here. . . .”
– Sound Advice

“As a freelance professional singer in New York City, I look forward to opportunities to work with Judy Clurman and her Essential Voices USA. Judy has quite a knack for blending amateurs, professionals, and superstars together to produce top-notch concerts, workshops, and recordings.”
– EVUSA Member

“When I was 18, I was at this point in life where I needed to decide whether music would be my professional or my personal life. I choose the latter. In Judith Clurman’s Essential Voices USA I found a chorus that satisfies my ambitions, challenges my abilities and that nurtures my passion.”
– EVUSA Member