Voices of Ascension will close its season on May 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Ascension in New York City with the launch of a new Choral Visionaries Initiative.

The inaugural edition features Beth Willer, founder and director of Boston’s Lorelei Ensemble, leading a program built entirely around premieres. The evening includes the New York City premiere of Sofia Gubaidulina’s “Canticle of the Sun” with cellist Tommy Mesa; the East Coast premiere of Ellen Reid’s “Oscillations: 100 Years and Forever” with newly reimagined NYC visuals; and the world premiere of Celeste Oram’s “All my salt falls short.”

World-renowned Messiaen interpreter Jon Gillock also joins the program to perform Olivier Messiaen’s “Apparition de l’Église éternelle.”

The Initiative is designed to bring both established and emerging choral voices to the resonant setting of the Church of the Ascension, offering each guest conductor a platform in New York while exposing audiences to new repertoire.

Future installments include Kathy Saltzman Romey as guest conductor in February 2027, with additional names to be announced.