New York Session Symphony

New York Session Symphony, Inc. (Benjamin Niemczyk, Conductor) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization whose purpose is to provide the opportunity for accomplished musicians to rehearse and perform significant classical works and new compositions in the New York City area.

Offering free concerts, NYSS is a community orchestra with members who range from young professionals to accomplished avocational players. Its concerts feature exciting soloists from rising stars like Corrine Byrne to amazing veterans like Stanley Drucker, former principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic.

Since 2014, NYSS has proudly been the resident ensemble of the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House; we believe that we are the only orchestra serving as a resident ensemble for a public housing facility.

CONDUCTOR

Benjamin Niemczyk is a conductor, singer and arranger of uncommon range. Equally skilled as a choral and orchestral conductor, he leads New York Session Symphony, Westchester Oratorio Society and is Director of Music at the Oratory Church of St. Boniface in Brooklyn.

He has appeared at Radio City Music Hall, United Nations General Assembly, Caramoor, Symphony Space, Geffen Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, Brooklyn Academy of Music, River to River Festival, Miller Theater, and has performed with Anthony Newman, Hélène Grimaud, Ennio Morricone, Stanley Drucker, Barbara Cook, Joshua Bell, Stephen Schwartz, John Nelson, Marin Alsop, Harold Rosenbaum, Amy Kaiser, Peter Schickele, the Orchestra of St Lukes, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Strathmere Ensemble, Music of the Baroque, REBEL Baroque Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Brooklyn Ballet, Canticum Novum, Collegiate Chorale, Westchester Chorale, Westchester Choral Society, Chicago Choral Artists, Bella Voce and Holy Name Cathedral.

Recent performances include Mayer Overture No. 2 and Symphony No. 1, Farrenc Symphony No. 2 and Symphony No. 3, Bach Jesu, meine Freude, Mass in G Minor, Cantatas, Motets, Concertos and Sonatas, Händel Dixit Dominus and Chandos Anthems and Water Music, Brahms Double Concerto, Piano Concerto No. 1, Symphony No. 2, Symphony No. 4, Liebeslieder Suite and Schicksalslied, Strauss Traumlicht, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and Symphony No. 5, Beethoven Violin Concerto and Emperor Concerto, Ravel Pavane, Debussy Danse sacrée et danse profane and Première rhapsodie, Barber Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Dvořák Symphony No. 8, Sibelius Karelia Suite, Vivaldi Magnificat and Gloria, Mozart Vesperae solennes and C Minor Mass and Haydn Requiem.

In 2022 he gave the NYC premiere of Louise Farrenc’s Symphony No. 3, nearly 150 years after its completion. He has given pioneering performances of the German composer Emilie Mayer.

He has appeared on screen in My Best Friend’s Wedding, 48 Hours Mystery and Mozart in the Jungle. Also a professional photographer and videographer, he has filmed many local artists.

He studied composition at Wheaton College Conservatory of Music and DePaul University School of Music.