The Keeper of the Chord: Celebrating Gene Wisoff’s Three Decades with the Mendelssohn Glee Club

In the bustling, ever-changing landscape of New York City’s choral scene, there is a constant that has hummed beneath the surface for over thirty years. If you walk into a rehearsal room on the Upper West Side on a Monday night, you’ll find a group of men—tenors, baritones, and basses—gathered around a piano. At the center of it all is Gene Wisoff, the conductor who has served as the musical heartbeat of the Mendelssohn Glee Club since 1993.

To lead any musical organization for thirty years is a feat; to lead the oldest independent male chorus in the United States is a historic stewardship.

A Legacy in Four Parts

The Mendelssohn Glee Club (MGC) was founded in 1866, making it the second-oldest independent musical organization in the country, just behind the New York Philharmonic. When Gene Wisoff took the baton in 1993, he wasn't just stepping into a job; he was inheriting a tradition that once helped define American musical taste during the Gilded Age.

Wisoff’s tenure has been defined by a "sentimental anchor" philosophy. While the world outside transitioned from vinyl to streaming, Wisoff ensured that the "earthy" and resonant sound of a male chorus remained vibrant. His approach to conducting is described by members as both rigorous and deeply personal—he is known for his "middle C" auditions, where he can determine a singer's range and character in just a few scales.

The Wisoff Touch: Choral Arrangements

One of the most significant contributions Gene Wisoff has made to the choral world is his prolific work as an arranger. Because the repertoire for TTBB (Tenor I, Tenor II, Baritone, Bass) ensembles can be specialized, Wisoff has frequently taken the pen himself to ensure the Club has fresh, engaging material.

His arrangements are celebrated for their:

• Vocal Accessibility: Understanding the amateur yet dedicated voice, his arrangements are written to sound "big" and lush without being prohibitively difficult.

• Eclectic Range: Wisoff doesn't stick to a single genre. His programs often jump from Brahms and Wagner to Cole Porter and The Beatles.

• Storytelling: He has a knack for arranging "sentimental and novelty pieces," keeping alive the spirit of the 19th-century glee club while modernizing it with contemporary favorites like Carly Simon or Billy Joel.

Three Decades of Community

Under Wisoff’s direction, the MGC has remained a nonprofit powerhouse, offering free concerts to the public twice a year. Whether performing at the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue or the West End Collegiate Church, Wisoff’s leadership has turned these concerts into community events, complete with his signature "Champagne Afterglow" receptions and audience sing-alongs.

The Pandemic dealt a heavy blow to the group, a loss felt deeply in the empty chairs once occupied by long-time stalwarts who did not return. With the roster cut in half, the future felt uncertain. Yet, Gene Wisoff refused to let the music fade. He brought the group back from the edge through relentless recruiting, meticulously curating a new membership that includes a vibrant new generation of performers. Under his leadership, the group has emerged from this period not just restored, but musically refined and ready for its next chapter.

As of 2026, Wisoff continues to lead the Club with the same vigor he brought in the 90s. He recently conducted the Spring 2025 concert, which honored the US Army’s 250th anniversary, proving that even after 30+ years, his programming remains as relevant and patriotic as the day the Club was founded.

Come see him and the Mendelssohn Glee Club celebrate the club's 160th birthday and the 250th birthday on May 12, at the Redeemer Presbyterian Church, West Side (150 W 83rd St, NYC) at 7:00pm. Admission: FREE

Click here to RSVP

The Baton Passes On, but the Sound Remains

Gene Wisoff is more than just a conductor; he is a bridge between New York’s storied musical past and its living present. He has taught generations of men that there is a unique power in the male voice—a power that, under his careful guidance, continues to ring out across Manhattan, one four-part harmony at a time.

Did you know? The Mendelssohn Glee Club was so influential in the late 1800s that their tours inspired the formation of the Apollo Club of Boston and, eventually, the Boston Symphony Orchestra!