Organization

Founded in Boston in 1815, the Handel and Haydn Society (H&H) is considered America’s oldest continuously performing arts organization and will celebrate its Bicentennial in 2015. Its Period Instrument Orchestra and Chorus are internationally recognized in the field of Historically Informed Performance, using the instruments and techniques of the composer’s time. Under Artistic Director Harry Christophers’ leadership, H&H’s mission is to perform Baroque and Classical music at the highest levels of artistic excellence and to share that music with as large and diverse an audience as possible. H&H’s esteemed tradition of innovation and excellence began in the 19th century with the US premieres of Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s The Creation, Verdi’s Requiem, and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Today, H&H is widely known through its concert series, tours, local and national broadcasts, and recordings. Its nine-program series is held at Symphony and Jordan Halls in Boston and Sanders Theatre in Cambridge. H&H’s first recording with Harry Christophers, Mozart Mass in C Minor, was issued in September 2010 on the CORO label, followed by Mozart Requiem in September 2011 and Mozart Coronation in 2012. As a major performing organization, educator, resource center, and community partner, H&H strives to entertain and inspire audiences, provide unique educational experiences for students at all levels, and reach all citizens in the community through broad outreach efforts. Established in 1985, H&H’s award-winning Karen S. and George D. Levy Educational Outreach Program reaches 10,000 students each year throughout Greater Boston, many in underserved communities. H&H also maintains partnerships with area cultural and higher education institutions, including Boston Public Library; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; New England Conservatory; and Harvard University.