Specialties
The Boston Cecilia stands among Boston's oldest and finest performing arts organizations. Founded in 1876, Cecilia has an established reputation for its period-instrument performances of baroque music, especially the oratorios of Handel and the music of Bach.
Cecilia has had the privilege of working under such celebrated conductor/composers as Igor Stravinsky and Antonin Dvoràk.
In 1968, Donald Teeters took the baton and began his pioneering work in the American movement toward period-instrument performances. Since then, Cecilia has cemented its reputation as Boston's foremost performer and interpreter of Handel.
Teeters has also continued to perform new works, presenting world premieres of contemporary composers including Daniel Pinkham, Scott Wheeler, James Woodman, and others.
Today, Cecilia is among Boston's premier performing entities, presenting several programs each season, with an uncommon depth of artistic understanding a context of excellence and innovation.
History
Established in 1876.
Founded by B.J. Lang in 1876, The Cecilia Society presented Boston premieres under Lang of 105 works that have become standard choral repertoire, including Bach's Mass in B Minor and Brahms' Ein deutches Requiem.
During the first half of 1900s, Cecilia grew into a superior chorus that took the stage at key points in Boston's musical history, including the dedication of Symphony Hall, and the dedication of the Tanglewood Shed.
Under the direction of Arthur Fiedler, Cecilia was the resident chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for 16 years,. Cecilia was also the choice of Isabella Stewart Gardner to help celebrate the opening of her beloved museum.
In later years the group had the privilege of working under such conductor/composers as Igor Stravinsky and Antonin Dvoràk.
Since 1968, The Boston Cecilia has been conducted by Donald Teeters, a pioneer in the American movement toward period-instrument performances. Today, Cecilia stands among Boston's premier performing entities.
Meet the Manager: Donald T.
Now in his 43rd season as music director of The Boston Cecilia, conductor Donald Teeters is in the forefront of historically-oriented New England musicians.
Teeters trained as an organist at New England Conservatory and served as assistant to Alfred Nash Patterson with the Chorus pro Musica and later to Thomas Dunn at the Handel & Haydn Society.
In addition to his comprehensive survey of the works of Bach and Handel in stylish readings, he has led Cecilia in explorations of a broad range of late-nineteenth and twentieth century British composers, and of works by his countrymen, especially those of his own time.
Teeters is organist-music director at All Saints Parish in Brookline and a member of the music history faculty at New England Conservatory where he received that institution's Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004.
