Meet the New York Life Singers — working in harmony since 1938.

New York Life | November 21, 2024

New York Life has a choral group — and it’s not as unusual as you might think. The New York Life Singers can be counted among dozens of employee choirs at companies throughout the country.

The choir has been wowing New York Life with beautiful harmonies since 1938. It all started when employees from the New York Life Women’s Club gathered to form a choral ensemble. They called themselves the New York Life Lyric Choral Group and performed for the holidays and at military hospitals all over the New York City area.

It is also thought the group’s history goes back even further to 1915 when a group of 60-80 men and women came together to form the NYLIC Choral Society (NYLIC standing for New York Life Insurance Company). Whether any of these people dreamed their chorus would still be alive and kicking in 2024 is anybody’s guess, but they would certainly be proud to know that more than 80 years later, their vision remains in what is now the New York Life Singers.

The Singers are best known for their lobby performances during the holiday season at New York Life’s iconic Home Office building in New York City. They are also a core part of our annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, and have performed at past Executive Officer meetings. Through the decades, they’ve performed at such noteworthy venues as Rockefeller Center, the Pan Am/MetLife building, and the Ford Foundation. They also performed at our 150^th anniversary celebration at New York’s Madison Square Garden, along with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

“On a personal level, being able to use my original musical training at New York Life is particularly gratifying,” said Stephen O’Leary, director of the New York Life Singers and who works in our Finance department. “But of greater significance is that New York Life still has the resources and people to maintain, for over 85 years, one of the few remaining company choirs in the city.”

Who can join?

Any employee or retiree in the New York City area can become a member of the Singers. There are required on-site rehearsals and members are expected to practice on their own. However, no previous musical experience is necessary.

If you’re in the New York City area on Dec. 3, you can hear the New York Life Singers perform at the tree lighting in Madison Square Park from 4:45pm-5:00pm.

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