John Palatucci – Musical Director Emeritus
John Palatucci retired in 2023 after 33 years as the Music Director of the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus. From the start, John enhanced OCMCs rich history and tradition, challenging the chorus with more complex pieces across a wider range of musical genres. Today the Orpheus Club is a force among male choruses in the New York / New Jersey area. Among the performances under John’s direction are Ludwig von Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, Johannes Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody, Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs, Ottorini Respighi’s Laud to the Nativity, Randall Thompson’s Frostiana, Giuseppi Verdi’s Hymn to the Nations, and Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carol. John also spearheaded collaborations with other community musical organizations in memorable performances of David Avshalomov’s arrangement of the Sgt. Pepper/s Lonely Hearts Club Band album with the NJ Wind Symphony, and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Summit Chorale.
During his tenure, John wrote several male chorus arrangements specifically for the club. He also founded the Orpheus Club doo wop group, which performs acapella arrangements of pop music pieces from the 1950’s to present day. Doo wop group performances have been a popular fixture of our concerts for 30 years.
John leveraged his stellar reputation with the New York and New Jersey musical communities to expand OCMC’s exposure to new audiences, conducting performances at the Walter Damrosch Library at Lincoln Center; Carnegie Hall, Rutgers University with the Rutgers Glee Club and the NJ Choral Consortium; St Patrick’s Cathedral at 40th Annual “A City Singing at Christmas” Concert with St. Patrick’s Choir, as well as several joint performances with the New Jersey Wind Symphony; the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra, and the Palisades Virtuosi.
In 2022 and 2023, the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus, directed by John Palatucci, has been among the finalists for the American Price in Choral Performance—community division. The American Prize in Choral Performance recognizes and rewards the best performances by choruses in America each year based on submitted recordings.
John Palatucci retired in 2023 after 33 years as the Music Director of the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus. From the start, John enhanced OCMCs rich history and tradition, challenging the chorus with more complex pieces across a wider range of musical genres. Today the Orpheus Club is a force among male choruses in the New York / New Jersey area. Among the performances under John’s direction are Ludwig von Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, Johannes Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody, Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs, Ottorini Respighi’s Laud to the Nativity, Randall Thompson’s Frostiana, Giuseppi Verdi’s Hymn to the Nations, and Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carol. John also spearheaded collaborations with other community musical organizations in memorable performances of David Avshalomov’s arrangement of the Sgt. Pepper/s Lonely Hearts Club Band album with the NJ Wind Symphony, and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Summit Chorale.
During his tenure, John wrote several male chorus arrangements specifically for the club. He also founded the Orpheus Club doo wop group, which performs acapella arrangements of pop music pieces from the 1950’s to present day. Doo wop group performances have been a popular fixture of our concerts for 30 years.
John leveraged his stellar reputation with the New York and New Jersey musical communities to expand OCMC’s exposure to new audiences, conducting performances at the Walter Damrosch Library at Lincoln Center; Carnegie Hall, Rutgers University with the Rutgers Glee Club and the NJ Choral Consortium; St Patrick’s Cathedral at 40th Annual “A City Singing at Christmas” Concert with St. Patrick’s Choir, as well as several joint performances with the New Jersey Wind Symphony; the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra, and the Palisades Virtuosi.
In 2022 and 2023, the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus, directed by John Palatucci, has been among the finalists for the American Price in Choral Performance—community division. The American Prize in Choral Performance recognizes and rewards the best performances by choruses in America each year based on submitted recordings.