About Us
Founded by Music Director Justin Bischof, Modus Operandi Orchestra began as two organizations: Modus Opera, a boutique opera company in Manhattan, and the Canadian Chamber Orchestra of New York City. Modus presented all of the Mozart/ Da Ponte operas in fully staged productions with orchestra, and CCO presented an Annual Children’s Benefit Concert for 10 years (2007-2017) in Westchester. Our gala 10th included Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at SUNY Purchase Recital Hall with Metropolitan Opera soloists. Other concerts included their Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall in 2007 as part of the Variety NYC Opera Trash Benefit which raised money for children in need in the tri-state area. We made our Le Poisson Rouge debut with internationally acclaimed Canadian mezzo Ariana Chris in the same program.
The synthesis of these two organizations, MOO’s mission is to present symphonic, operatic and choral repertoire at the high- est artistic level with the goal to engage and enrich the local community. A vital component of our mission is to provide the opportunity for some of the finest freelance musicians in New York City to perform the staples of the great symphonic and operatic repertory as well as contemporary works and world premieres with their colleagues. Many of our players have gone on to perform with major ensembles including Berlin’s Konzer- thaus Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony and St. Paul’s Chamber Orchestra.
MOO’s stellar roster of international guest soloists have appeared with Vienna Philharmonic, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Edinburgh Festival, Lyric Op- era Chicago, New Israeli Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Seattle Symphony, Hong Kong Opera, Seattle Opera, Vlaamse Opera (Belgium), Sante Fe Opera, Montreal Opera, Opera North (UK), New York City Opera, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.
The annual MOO Annual Children’s Benefit Concert was a result of the inspiring leadership of Co-Founder Benefit Chair Dorothy E. Yewer and all of our loyal donors. These concerts raised over $1,000,000 which enabled more than 800 children at-risk children from Mount Vernon to attend the life-altering Children’s Aid Society Wagon Road summer camp. MOO was in residency at the historic Church of St. James the Less Scarsdale NY from 2007-2017 where we performed several times a season. We began our new residency at St. Mary Church Long Island City in November 2019 when we presented our inaugural concert as MOO.