Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Schiller Institute NYC Chorus opened the 2026 American History series marking the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on Sunday, May 17th, with an extraordinary concert on Sunday, May 17th, on the UWS.
The program included historical narratives and stories, American Spirituals an Hymns, the nation's first anthem Chester, written by "tunesmith" William Billings, old American river songs, as well as masterworks of Mozart & Beethoven.
Special guests included
Elvira Green, mezzo-soprano at the NT Met for 19 years, currently president of the Fdn for the Revival of Classical Music, and board member of the Greensboro Opera;
Dura Jun-Jones & Sewon Lim, pianists;
Jonathan Kruk, master storyteller;
Everett Suttle, tenor; and
Kevin Thompson, bass.
Visit sinycchorus.com
1:20 Opening remarks: Schiller Chorus Board member, Megan Dobrodt
3:55 Prologue - Ballad for Americans: Elvira Green, Fdn for the Revival of Classical Culture
10:00 Lily of the Valley: Schiller Chorus; Megan Dobrodt conducting
14:35 Prudence indeed . . . : Elvira Green
15:15 A long train of abuses . . . : Jonathan Kruk, Master Storyteller
19:00 Bye & Bye: Schiller Chorus; Everett Suttle tenor; Diane Sare, founder Schiller NYC Chorus
22:08 We hold these truths . . . : Elvira Green
23:42 Ain'a That Good News: Schiller Chorus, Diane Sare conducting
26:10 A Massachusetts Petition: Elivira Green
30:50 Oh Freedom: Kevin Thompson, bass; Dura Jun-Jones, piano
35:00 George Washington Speaks out: Jonathan Kruk
37:25 My Soul's Been Anchored: Schiller Chorus, John Sigerson, tenor; Diane Sare conducting
40:35 Gouverneur Morris Speaks out, 1787- Who shall be represented?: Jonathan Kruk
43:12 Lemuel Haynes Lexington: Elvira Green
44:18 William Billings, tunesmith - America's first Anthem, Chester: Jonathan Kruk
46:12 Chester: Schiller Chorus, Diane Sare conducting
49:15 First Rhode Island Regiment: Jonathan Kruk
53:40 His Name So Sweet: Megan Dobrodt
56:18 The Declaration: Jonathan Kruk
56:58 When in the course . . . The River Songs: Elvira Green
1:00:52 The Boatman's Dance: Everett Suttle, tenor; Dura Jun-Jones, piano
1:04:31 Shenandoah: Everett Suttle, tenor; Dura Jun-Jones, piano
1:08:00 Zion's Walls: Everett Suttle, tenor; Dura Jun-Jones, piano
1:10:44 O'l Man River: Kevin Thompson, bass; Dura Jun-Jones, piano
1:15:50 JQA: America Goes Not Abroad in Search of Monsters to Destroy: Elvira Green
1:19:38 Intermission
1:29:25 Coming events: Diane Sare
1:33:22 Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus: Schiller Chorus; Dura Jun-Jones, piano; John Sigerson conducting
1:36:30 Beethoven: Choral Fantasia, Opus 80: Schiller Chorus; Dura Jun-Jones, piano 1; Sewon Lim, piano 2; John Sigerson conducting
Schiller Institute NYC Chorus opened the 2026 American History series marking the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on Sunday, May 17th, with an extraordinary concert on Sunday, May 17th, on the UWS.
The program included historical narratives and stories, American Spirituals an Hymns, the nation's first anthem Chester, written by "tunesmith" William Billings, old American river songs, as well as masterworks of Mozart & Beethoven.
Special guests included
Elvira Green, mezzo-soprano at the NT Met for 19 years, currently president of the Fdn for the Revival of Classical Music, and board member of the Greensboro Opera;
Dura Jun-Jones & Sewon Lim, pianists;
Jonathan Kruk, master storyteller;
Everett Suttle, tenor; and
Kevin Thompson, bass.
Visit sinycchorus.com
1:20 Opening remarks: Schiller Chorus Board member, Megan Dobrodt
3:55 Prologue - Ballad for Americans: Elvira Green, Fdn for the Revival of Classical Culture
10:00 Lily of the Valley: Schiller Chorus; Megan Dobrodt conducting
14:35 Prudence indeed . . . : Elvira Green
15:15 A long train of abuses . . . : Jonathan Kruk, Master Storyteller
19:00 Bye & Bye: Schiller Chorus; Everett Suttle tenor; Diane Sare, founder Schiller NYC Chorus
22:08 We hold these truths . . . : Elvira Green
23:42 Ain'a That Good News: Schiller Chorus, Diane Sare conducting
26:10 A Massachusetts Petition: Elivira Green
30:50 Oh Freedom: Kevin Thompson, bass; Dura Jun-Jones, piano
35:00 George Washington Speaks out: Jonathan Kruk
37:25 My Soul's Been Anchored: Schiller Chorus, John Sigerson, tenor; Diane Sare conducting
40:35 Gouverneur Morris Speaks out, 1787- Who shall be represented?: Jonathan Kruk
43:12 Lemuel Haynes Lexington: Elvira Green
44:18 William Billings, tunesmith - America's first Anthem, Chester: Jonathan Kruk
46:12 Chester: Schiller Chorus, Diane Sare conducting
49:15 First Rhode Island Regiment: Jonathan Kruk
53:40 His Name So Sweet: Megan Dobrodt
56:18 The Declaration: Jonathan Kruk
56:58 When in the course . . . The River Songs: Elvira Green
1:00:52 The Boatman's Dance: Everett Suttle, tenor; Dura Jun-Jones, piano
1:04:31 Shenandoah: Everett Suttle, tenor; Dura Jun-Jones, piano
1:08:00 Zion's Walls: Everett Suttle, tenor; Dura Jun-Jones, piano
1:10:44 O'l Man River: Kevin Thompson, bass; Dura Jun-Jones, piano
1:15:50 JQA: America Goes Not Abroad in Search of Monsters to Destroy: Elvira Green
1:19:38 Intermission
1:29:25 Coming events: Diane Sare
1:33:22 Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus: Schiller Chorus; Dura Jun-Jones, piano; John Sigerson conducting
1:36:30 Beethoven: Choral Fantasia, Opus 80: Schiller Chorus; Dura Jun-Jones, piano 1; Sewon Lim, piano 2; John Sigerson conducting
