Seraphim [The Seraphim Singers] Open Rehearsal in Brookline, MA September 14th 2026

Executive Overview

The Seraphim Singers, one of New England’s most celebrated choral ensembles dedicated to sacred and contemporary repertoire, have formally announced the launch of their 29th performance season, titled "Critical Mass." Marking a monumental chapter in the organization’s history, the 2026–2027 season represents the inaugural full programming year under the leadership of Eric Christopher Perry, who steps into the role as the ensemble’s permanent Music Director following the storied tenure of founder Jennifer Lester.

To initiate the season’s artistic preparations and welcome prospective vocal talent from across Greater Boston, The Seraphim Singers will hold an Open Rehearsal on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The event will take place at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, located at 25 Monmouth Street in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Since its inception in 1997, Seraphim has built an exceptional reputation within Boston’s competitive classical music ecosystem. The ensemble has carved out a unique performing niche by crafting intellectually rigorous, thematic programs that bridges historic sacred masterworks with contemporary compositions. The 2026–2027 season continues this tradition through four distinct concert cycles designed to explore divine transcendence, human longing, acute suffering, and sociopolitical protest.

Key highlights of the upcoming "Critical Mass" season include performance cycles featuring:

• Rachel Fuller’s Animal Requiem
• Francis Poulenc’s Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël
• Veljo Tormis’s Curse Upon Iron (Raua needmine)
• Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Mass in G minor

To support this ambitious programmatic vision, the ensemble has launched an active recruitment campaign. Auditions are currently being conducted via an online application process, with the administration placing a strong emphasis on recruiting qualified singers across all voice registers—most notably altos and tenors.

Detailed Chronology

The trajectory of The Seraphim Singers reflects nearly three decades of sustained artistic development, institutional persistence, and purposeful evolution within the regional cultural sector.

[1997] ──► Founded by Jennifer Lester
           • Established mission centered on sacred masterworks & thematic depth
           • Developed reputation for stylistic precision and advanced vocal technique

[2025] ──► Leadership Transition Phase
           • Conclusion of Jennifer Lester's founding directorship
           • Appointment of Eric Christopher Perry as permanent Music Director

[2026] ──► Launch of 29th Season: "Critical Mass"
           • Early Fall: Online audition portal opens for all voice parts
           • Sept 14, 2026 (7:00 PM): Open Rehearsal at Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, Brookline
           • 2026–2027 Performance Year: Execution of four thematic concert cycles

The Founding Era (1997–2025)

In 1997, organist and conductor Jennifer Lester established The Seraphim Singers to explore the profound vastness of sacred choral literature. Under Lester’s direction over twenty-eight seasons, the ensemble grew from a passionate group of area musicians into an elite chamber choir. The organization distinguished itself by shying away from standard choral offerings, choosing instead to present challenging, rarely heard historical works alongside bold premieres by living composers. Lester’s programming routinely addressed heavy spiritual and philosophical themes, establishing a dedicated audience base across the North Shore, Boston proper, and the MetroWest suburbs.

Transition and New Leadership (2025–2026)

Following Lester’s retirement from the podium, the organization undertook a structured search process to identify a successor capable of preserving the ensemble’s foundational identity while expanding its vocal parameters and community outreach. Conductor and tenor Eric Christopher Perry was appointed as permanent Music Director. Perry brought a wealth of experience in chamber music performance, vocal pedagogy, and ensemble management, initiating a smooth institutional handoff designed to maintain artistic momentum into the late 2020s.

The 2026–2027 Season Rollout

• Late Summer 2026: The organization officially announces its 29th season theme, "Critical Mass," outlining a four-part concert series and launching a digital audition portal.
• September 14, 2026 (7:00 PM): The Seraphim Singers convene at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Brookline, MA, for their public Open Rehearsal, inviting regional musicians to observe the choir’s rehearsal methodology, interact with Director Eric Christopher Perry, and explore prospective membership.
• Fall 2026 – Spring 2027: The ensemble will present its four concert cycles across selected sanctuary venues in Eastern Massachusetts, featuring solo performances drawn directly from the ranks of the choir’s membership.

Supporting Context & Metrics

Musical & Programmatic Architecture

The four cornerstone compositions selected for the "Critical Mass" season demonstrate the ensemble’s characteristic blend of historic reverence and contemporary sociopolitical commentary.

                              2026–2027 Programmatic Pillars
                                             │
      ┌────────────────────────┬─────────────┴─────────────┬────────────────────────┐
      ▼                        ▼                           ▼                        ▼
Rachel Fuller            Francis Poulenc              Veljo Tormis        Ralph Vaughan Williams
"Animal Requiem"     "Quatre motets..."            "Curse Upon Iron"        "Mass in G minor"
(Contemporary)      (Mid-20th C. Sacred)         (Estonian Protest)       (English Polyphonic)

1. Rachel Fuller’s Animal Requiem: First performed in 2019, this contemporary work provides a compassionate, formal requiem setting for animals, addressing themes of loss, human-animal relationships, and moral responsibility toward the natural world. Its inclusion signals Seraphim’s ongoing commitment to expanding the traditional boundaries of sacred music.
2. Francis Poulenc’s Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël: A staple of 20th-century sacred choral literature, Poulenc’s four Christmas motets (O magnum mysterium, Quem vidistis pastores dicite, Videntes stellam, and Hodie Christus natus est) demand extraordinary tonal purity, dramatic dynamic shifts, and nuanced text-setting.
3. Veljo Tormis’s Curse Upon Iron (Raua needmine): Estonian composer Veljo Tormis utilizes incantatory, shamanistic rhythms, traditional vocal calls, and a shaman drum to issue an alarming warning against the destruction of nature and the militarization of technology. The piece represents the peak of Seraphim’s focus on music as an instrument of social protest.
4. Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Mass in G minor: Written for unassisted double choir and soloists, this masterpiece synthesizes Renaissance polyphonic techniques with 20th-century English modality. The work demands exceptional vocal stamina, absolute pitch accuracy, and balance between the primary double choirs and semi-chorus.

Ensemble Demographics and Internal Soloist Model

The Seraphim Singers maintain an operational structure composed of highly trained musicians drawn from diverse professional backgrounds, including music educators, instrumentalists, academic scholars, and dedicated vocal specialists.

A defining feature of the Seraphim model is its internal soloist framework. Rather than hiring external guest soloists for major works, the ensemble selects solo talent directly from within its existing roster for each concert cycle. This practice provides robust professional development opportunities for its singers while fostering deep musical cohesion across the performance line.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                   THE SERAPHIM SINGERS ROSTER                    |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| • Professional Vocalists  • Music Educators   • Church Musicians  |
| • Instrumentalists        • Academic Scholars • Dedicated Amateurs|
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                  │
                                  ▼
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                    INTERNAL SOLOIST FRAMEWORK                     |
| Soloists for major works are auditioned and selected directly     |
| from the active ensemble roster for every concert cycle.          |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

Acoustic Venue Context: Brookline, MA

The choice of the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Brookline (25 Monmouth St.) as the venue for the September 14 open rehearsal aligns with the choir’s long-standing affinity for high-ceilinged, acoustically responsive ecclesiastical spaces. Built in the late 19th century, the sanctuary offers a reverberant environment ideal for unamplified choral singing, allowing the complex polyphony of Vaughan Williams and the intricate textures of Poulenc to bloom fully.

Official Statements

Reflecting on the strategic launch of his inaugural season as permanent Music Director, Eric Christopher Perry articulated the philosophical framework behind the "Critical Mass" programming and the open audition process:

"As we embark on this 29th season, the title ‘Critical Mass’ reflects not only the monumental musical structures we are confronting—such as Vaughan Williams’s breathtaking double-choir Mass and Tormis’s raw, visceral Curse Upon Iron—but also the cultural tipping point at which we find ourselves today. Sacred choral music has always served as an essential mirror to human vulnerability, longing, and social conscience.

My goal in this first season as permanent Music Director is to build directly upon the extraordinary foundation laid by Jennifer Lester over nearly three decades. We are seeking passionate, agile musicians who are eager to engage deeply with challenging repertoire. Our open rehearsal on September 14 is designed to demystify our creative process, invite fresh vocal talent into our community, and set the tone for an artistically uncompromising year."

Addressing the ensemble’s legacy and ongoing recruitment objectives, administrative representatives for The Seraphim Singers emphasized the choir’s distinct culture and vocal needs:

"Seraphim occupies a truly unique position within the Greater Boston arts ecosystem. We are a community of musicians bound by a shared obsession with challenging, meaningful repertoire that speaks directly to spiritual transcendence and human struggle.

For our 2026–2027 season, we are actively expanding our roster across all voice parts, with an immediate, priority need for skilled altos and tenors. Because our organizational model awards solo opportunities directly to our choir members across all four performance cycles, singers joining Seraphim are entering an environment that actively challenges and elevates their individual musicianship."

Future Outlook

As The Seraphim Singers prepare for their September 14 open rehearsal and the subsequent execution of "Critical Mass," the ensemble’s trajectory highlights wider trends in the contemporary choral landscape:

                            FUTURE STRATEGIC ROADMAP
                                  (2026–2028)
                                       │
      ┌────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────┐
      ▼                                ▼                                ▼
Season 29: "Critical Mass"     Audience Democratization        30th Anniversary Horizon
(2026–2027)                    (2026–2027)                     (2027–2028)
• 4 Distinct Cycles            • Open Rehearsals               • Major Commissions
• Focus on Altos/Tenors        • Digital Audition Portals      • Retrospective Programming
• Internal Soloist Model       • Community Engagement          • Institutional Archiving

Strategic Objectives for the 2026–2027 Season

1. Vocal Roster Optimization: Successfully integrate new vocal talent—specifically fortifying the alto and tenor sections—to support eight-part split textures and complex contemporary techniques required for the season’s slate.
2. Democratization of Choral Artistry: Utilize open rehearsal access to lower barriers between professional-level ensembles and the public, creating open access points for classical music enthusiasts in New England.
3. Sociopolitical and Sacred Dialogue: Foster broader community discussions around environmental ethics (Curse Upon Iron), animal welfare (Animal Requiem), and classical sacred forms through pre-concert lectures and curated program notes.

Looking Ahead to the 30th Anniversary Milestone

The 2026–2027 season acts as a critical artistic bridge leading toward the choir’s 30th Anniversary Season in 2027–2028. Under Eric Christopher Perry’s leadership, the organization plans to leverage the success of "Critical Mass" to expand its regional footprint, explore prospective recording projects, and commission new works from emerging composers that keep sacred masterworks connected to modern social themes.

Participation & Audition Information

Musicians interested in auditioning for The Seraphim Singers or attending the Open Rehearsal can review the formal requirements below:

• Event: Season 29 Open Rehearsal
• Date & Time: Monday, September 14, 2026 | 7:00 PM EST
• Location: Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, 25 Monmouth St., Brookline, MA 02446
• Audition Format: Digital application and online submission process
• Target Voice Parts: All registers welcome; immediate openings for Altos and Tenors
• Official Portal & Inquiries: www.seraphimsingers.org | www.seraphimsingers.org/auditions