Musica Sacra Appoints Janice L. Mayer Executive Director

Janice L. Mayer has been named Executive Director of Musica Sacra by the President of the Board of Directors, Scott Lethbridge. Ms. Mayer's leadership of the nonprofit choral organization will be effective January 2, 2013. In announcing the appointment, Mr. Lethbridge said, "Janice's long experience with the classical music world combined with her business acumen will be an invaluable asset to Musica Sacra."

Music Director Kent Tritle shared his enthusiasm for the selection, "I am so very excited to be working with Janice Mayer in this new capacity. I have long admired her sensitivity to artists and her depth of commitment to great music making. I am looking forward to a rich and meaningful collaboration!"

In accepting the appointment, Ms. Mayer said, "Over the years as an artist manager, I often placed soloists with Musica Sacra. The vocalists had meaningful artistic experiences, and the performances that I attended were outstanding. The chorus' dual commitment to performing masterpieces of the oratorio repertoire superbly, and to expanding the vocal repertoire through the commissioning, performing, and recording of works by leading contemporary composers, is of great importance to me. I look forward to working with the Board of Directors to realize Kent Tritle's artistic vision and maintain Musica Sacra's standard of excellence."

Janice L. Mayer joins Musica Sacra from Caminos del Inka, Inc., where she served as Executive Director. Caminos del Inka, Inc. was founded by conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya to discover, preserve, expand and disseminate the rich musical legacy of the Americas. During her distinguished career, Ms. Mayer has held positions of responsibility with the New York City Opera, The Shubert Organization, The Metropolitan Opera, the Van Cliburn Foundation, and Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS. She was a Vice President at Columbia Artists Management, Inc., and founded and directed Janice Mayer & Associates LLC., an international artist management firm based in New York. Janice Mayer has been engaged as a consultant by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, ML Falcone Public Relations, The Harlem School of the Arts, and The Copyright Society of the USA, among other organizations. As a volunteer arts leader, she is the President of the Board of Directors of Backshore Artists Project Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to the commissioning of chamber works. She was honored to be the first artist manager elected to the Board of Directors of OPERA America, serving for six years. A committed educator, she has taught in the arts administration programs at New York University and Purchase College, State University of New York. Janice Mayer holds a Master of Public Administration degree with a specialization in Arts Administration from New York University and a B.A. from Connecticut College.

Musica Sacra is the longest continuously performing professional chorus in New York City. Founded in 1964 by conductor Richard Westenburg, the mission of Musica Sacra is to create definitive professional choral performances of the highest caliber for the widest possible audience. It supports its mission by presenting concerts; recording, commissioning and performing new choral works; and educating audiences, students, and the general public in the appreciation and history of choral music. This year, Music Director Kent Tritle led the chorus in its new CD release, Messages to Myself: New Music for Chorus A Cappella. The recording features new choral compositions by Daniel Brewbaker, Robert Convery, Michael Gilbertson, Aaron Jay Kernis, Elliot Z. Levine, Zachary Patten, Behzad Ranjbaran, Christopher Theofanidis and Christina Whitten Thomas.

Now in his sixth season as Music Director, Maestro Tritle conducts the chorus in its annual season of performances in New York, including Handel's Messiah at Carnegie Hall. Musica Sacra will perform the Messiah twice this month: on Thursday, December 20, and Sunday, December 23, 2012 at 8pm. For concert information, please visit the Musica Sacra website: www.musicasacrany.com.