About Amuse

Amuse is a small ensemble dedicated to bringing music written for treble voices — an often overlooked area of choral literature — to New York audiences. Founded in 2002 by Lee Ryder, its repertory comprises serious works by a wide variety of composers, from the early chant of Hildegard and works for the Italian convents and ospedali, to contemporary works of the 20th and 21st centuries. Since its debut in 2003, Amuse’s programming has consistently been fresh and imaginative and has excelled in showcasing the colors and capabilities of treble voices.

Amuse is dedicated to expanding the repertoire for treble choir and regularly commissions and premieres new works from composers including Eleanor Aversa, Colin Britt, Catherine Dalton, Manolo Da Rold, Katherine Dienes-Williams, Melissa Dunphy, Matthew Harris, and Sarah Rimkus.

In addition to its concert season, Amuse has participated in a wide variety of other programs, including the US première of John Tavener’s The Veil of the Temple, the closing work of the Lincoln Center Festival; the chants of François Couperin’s Messe pour les couvents, with Renée Louprette, organist at St. Ignatius Loyola; Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem with the Dessoff Symphonic Choir; and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Lorin Maazel for the maestro’s concluding performances. Amuse has appeared twice on the Music on Madison series at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church and has twice toured the Boston area. The group was presented on the Serenade Concert series at historic Christ Church on Staten Island, and made its debut with the Oratorio Society of New York in a cameo role in Felix Mendelssohn’s Paulus at Carnegie Hall with Kent Tritle conducting.

“This choir’s real magic is in its delicate balance of serenity and intensity… a pure transparent tone and solid ensemble.”
– Allan Kozinn, The New York Times