The Mendelssohn Club of Albany is composed of men with a variety of occupations and interests who live in the greater Capital District, Hudson Valley, and Berkshires. The Club is dedicated to preserving and presenting male choral music and blends musical experiences with fellowship for members through rehearsals, concerts and other musical events, afterglows and social gatherings.

The Mendelssohn Club consistently sells out its two subscription concerts in December and May, with its December concert marking the official onset of the holiday season for many in the area.

In April, 2000, the Club was the featured chorus at the 10th InterMountain Choral-Fest, held at the world renowned Mormon Tabernacle. Included in its annals are appearances at Carnegie Hall in New York City and as featured guests before 30,000 during the celebration of Albany's Tricentennial. The Club is much in demand and performs annually before many civic and charitable groups. In addition to regular appearances at Albany's First Night celebration, the Club appears each spring at the Tulip Festival at Washington Park, and can be heard at the Pepsi Arena singing the American and Canadian Anthems before featured hockey and basketball games. Recent performances have included a benefit concert for Big Brothers Big Sisters at the famed Troy Music Hall, a taped concert for local PBS affiliate WMHT-TV, and appearances before 50,000 at the Travers in Saratoga.

The Club performs the full range of male chorus literature from around the world, singing mostly in English, but also German, Italian, Spanish, Czech, Latin, etc. Music selections are either a capella or accompanied, usually by piano, but sometimes by other instruments. A guest artist or group is engaged for each subscription concert and the Club may perform selections with the guest(s). Recent guests have included baritone Gary Aldrich, mezzo-soprano Frances Pallozzi, Skip Parsons Riverboat Jazz Band, pianist Findlay Cockrell, members of Schenectady Light Opera, Opera Excelsior, the Lake George Opera Festival, the Sun Mountain Fiddler and the Hangovers of the Cornell Glee Club. In the past, such notables as Marian Anderson, Nelson Eddy, and Maureen Forrester have sung with the Club.

Organization of the Club

The Mendelssohn Club is governed by an elected Board of Directors comprised of four officers (president, vice president, secretary and treasurer) and nine board members. The officers and board contract for the services of the conductor, accompanist and concert coordinator, who are salaried employees of the Club. Officers are elected to two-year terms and board members serve for three years. Much of the Club's work is done by standing committees. For example, a Music Committee, comprised of several Club members and our conductor, selects a concert theme, music and programs for the upcoming concert season. Other standing committees include Auditions, Concert Arrangements, Tickets, Finance, Publicity, Social Activities, to name but a few.

Conductor

Dr. Victor Klimash is the Club's conductor. He holds the Doctor of Music degree in Voice from Florida State University and a Master's and Bachelor's degree in Voice from The Eastman School of Music, where he was a recipient of that school's prestigious Performer's Certificate in Voice and Opera. Victor was a faculty member of The Louisiana State University School of Music in Baton Rouge for 23 years, where he served as Director of Choral Activities, conducting the LSU A Cappella Choir, the University Chorus and Symphony Orchestra, and the LSU Women's Chorus. During his tenure at LSU he founded and conducted the Baton Rouge Symphony Chorus, and served for a time as Conductor of the New Orleans Symphony Chorus. Victor's career took him to Midland, Michigan, where he served as the Artistic Director and Conductor for a private Music Foundation. His duties included conducting a 150-voice Chorale, a Chamber Choir, two orchestras, and three musical theater productions annually. In addition, he supervised three children's choirs and a men's chorus. Since moving to the Capital Region of New York three years ago, he has conducted two productions for Opera Excelsior, and is currently Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church of Albany, and a faculty member of Union College, where he conducts the College and Community Orchestra.

Accompanist

Pianist Michael Clement was trained at the Eastman School of Music, University of Arizona, and University of Southern California. Michael has performed concerts throughout the US, and has served as music director of Opera Excelsior, vocal coach at the College of Saint Rose, accompanist at Skidmore College, and music director of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Albany, New York.