Singing City is a volunteer-based

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

choral organization founded by Dr. Elaine Brown,

Temple University Temple University (Temple or TU) is a public state-related research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1884 by the Baptist minister Russell Conwell and his congregation Grace Baptist Church of Philadelphia then called Ba ...

in 1948. The

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

-based organization was born from the Fellowship House movement, based on the idea that

cultural Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human Society, societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, and habits of the ...

differences could be bridged through shared activities. Its stated mission is "to be an artistic, social and spiritual force, bringing people together through choral music."
Official Site. In addition to a 100-person volunteer adult

choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which ...

, the organization also works to offer music instruction to under-funded elementary schools in Philadelphia.
Financing good will: How charities are innovating to survive. The choir was also involved in the

civil rights movement The civil rights movement was a nonviolent social and political movement and campaign from 1954 to 1968 in the United States to abolish legalized institutional Racial segregation in the United States, racial segregation, Racial discrimination ...

, traveling through the

southern states Southern States may refer to: *The independent states of the Southern hemisphere United States * Southern United States, or the American South * Southern States Cooperative, an American farmer-owned agricultural supply cooperative * Southern Stat ...

during the 1950s and the 1960s, in addition to performances in

, the inspiration for the choirs 2013 commission and performance of "The Children's March.", Review, Philadelphia City Paper., Feature, Local Arts Live. The group has also traveled throughout the world, performing with the

Israel Philharmonic The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (abbreviation IPO; Hebrew: התזמורת הפילהרמונית הישראלית, ''ha-Tizmoret ha-Filharmonit ha-Yisra'elit'') is an Israeli symphony orchestra based in Tel Aviv. Its principal concert venue ...

in the 1970s, and was the first western choir to perform with the Leningrad Philharmonic in 1990.
WWFM The Classical Network Honors Elaine Brown on Sunday, March 13: "Sounds Choral" recognizes the founder of Philadelphia's Singing City. Since June 1999,

Jeffrey Brillhart Jeffrey Brillhart (born 1955) is an American organist, improviser, and conductor. He has served as director of music and fine arts at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church since January 1983. He is music director of Philadelphia's Singing City Choir, on ...

has served as the Artistic and Musical Director.
Singing City Staff Bio. As of 2023, the chorus has 80 members.

References

{{authority control Choral societies Arts organizations based in Pennsylvania Non-profit organizations based in Philadelphia Musical groups established in 1948 1948 establishments in Pennsylvania