First Songs of the Season is an annual Christmas concert held at
Gustavus Adolphus Church in Gramercy Park, NYC, early in December.
The church was built in 1865 by J.C. Cady, who also built the original Metropolitan Opera House. The resulting acoustics are stunning, and create a wonderful, full sound - perfect for making music. That and the beautiful holiday decor make First Songs a rich, sensory experience - a lovely start to the festive season!
Our first concert was in 2006, so 2024 marks the 19th year! With the exception of 2020 and 2021, which were cancelled due to Covid, we have been making merry each year with a stellar cast of regulars and rotating guests from all music disciplines - opera, classical, jazz, folk, rock and everything in between!
Every show sees a combination of solo performances, duet and quartet pieces, and audience participation songs and carols. Holiday traditions from around the world, the solemn beauty of reverent carols, joyful seasonal songs and more - are all wrapped up in one fun-filled, heartwarming evening.
This year's concert was a wonderful return for all, and as usual full of surprises! Check out our 'Players' page to get a look at our amazing 2024 cast, and if you'd like to support what we do, simply click on the 'Join The Fun' button and you will be redirected to our donation sites. Thanks so much, and we hope to see you next December for First Songs 2025!
Andriette Redmann as Sankta Lucia
Hayden DeWitt and Neal Harrelson-Keyes