Singing As One

On an October evening in 1909, eight men gathered in the Ridgewood home of Frank R. Pawley with a simple idea: to form a men’s singing club. A week later, 10 men met in a room in the First National Bank Building, paying 75 cents a night to rehearse. By 1911, they were presenting their first public concert at the old Ridgewood Opera House.

From those modest beginnings, the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus was born.

Today, over 116 years later, Orpheus remains a vibrant musical force and, according to its history, the oldest cultural institution in Bergen County. What began as a small local singing club has evolved into a respected regional ensemble of 37 men from across Bergen County and beyond.

They rehearse every Wednesday evening at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood. Tenors, baritones, and basses stand together—many of them long retired from careers in business, law, medicine, and education. Some have been with the chorus for more than 30 years. Others joined in the last season or two. All are united by a love of choral singing and friendship.

Brotherhood in Harmony

Chairman of the Board of Trustees Bob Husband, a 20-year member, describes the bond this way: “Over the long history of the club, several things are common through all those years. The love of choral singing, the seriousness of study and approach, and the wonderful camaraderie enjoyed by the choir. All the guys really pull for each other. We work really hard mastering the music and still find time to laugh with each other. The men find rehearsal a joy rather than a chore. It’s a chance to retreat from the stresses of everyday life and concentrate on music making and the laughter of true friends.”

It is that balance of musical discipline and genuine friendship that defines Orpheus. Husband says one of his favorite parts of membership is the transformation that happens in rehearsal.

“When we first start rehearsing a piece, it’s hard to visualize how the harmonizing of the four voice ranges will blend and balance into a coherent whole,” he explains. “We may be struggling with a particular piece early in the process, but eventually, we come through, and the piece transforms from something pedantic and disjointed into something almost magical.”

Distinguished Performances

Throughout its long history, Orpheus has performed on impressive stages including the 1926 Philadelphia Sesqui-Centennial Celebration of the Declaration of Independence, the 1940 and 1964 New York World’s Fairs, NBC Radio Studios in 1950, the dedication of Ridgewood’s Kasschau Bandshell in 1958, Lincoln Center in 2005, Carnegie Recital Hall in 2013, and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in 2019, to name just a few.

They have also welcomed many distinguished guests over the decades, including composer Percy Grainger and renowned sopranos Eleanor Steber, Denyce Graves, and Barbara Dever.

Yet just as meaningful as those marquee moments are, it’s the local performances that define the group’s identity as a community entity.

Ridgewood Winterfest, the Fourth of July Parade, Memorial Day services, Flag Day ceremonies at The Valley Hospital, concerts at the Paramus Veterans Home, and collaborations with local arts organizations such as the Ridgewood Symphony, the New Jersey Wind Symphony and the Ridgewood Chorale define the group.

“All our guys understand the responsibility to uphold the long traditions and history of the club to give quality performances that hopefully enrich and inspire our audiences,” says Husband. “In today’s divided cultural environment, Orpheus seeks to help our community respect one another and grow in spirit. Music has a unique capability to bring together folks of all races, backgrounds, and interests to join together as a community.”

The Next Generation

That belief in music as a unifying force extends beyond the stage. The club sponsors the Roland L. Meyer Scholarship, awarded to a graduating high school senior who has demonstrated extraordinary accomplishment in music and plans to continue studying at the collegiate level.

Over the past 20 years, scholarships have gone to singers and musicians—both men and women—representing genres ranging from opera and classical to rap. Orpheus also administers the Levy Family Scholarship, established by accompanist Ron Levy in memory of his parents.

A Historic New Chapter

As proud as the chorus is of its history, it is also in a period of transition—and renewal. For more than three decades, Orpheus was led by longtime music director John Palatucci. Following his retirement in 2022, the chorus began searching for its next artistic leader.

In December 2024, they welcomed a guest conductor who would soon make history.

Dr. Argine Safari, an accomplished conductor, vocal coach, and collaborative pianist, became the first woman to serve as the club’s Music Director in its 116-year history. A past conductor and pianist with the Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Youth Chorus and Director of Choirs at Pascack Valley High School, Dr. Safari brought both artistic distinction and a deep understanding of community building.

“I had known about Orpheus for many years and had attended their concerts, so I already had a deep respect for the group and its musical tradition,” she says. “I was also fortunate to be invited to bring my all-male a cappella group, Bro Squad, to perform on one of their concerts, which gave me an early chance to connect with the members and experience the spirit of the group firsthand.

“Then, serving as guest conductor for the December 2024 concert gave the members a chance to get to know me better—and it gave me something just as important: the realization that I truly loved working with this chorus. So, when Ron Levy, the brilliant assistant director and collaborative pianist, reached out to ask whether I’d be interested in the music director position, I really had no doubts. By that point, I had seen the artistry, the tradition, and the heart of the group up close, and it felt like a very natural and joyful next step.”

Safari is careful to emphasize that tradition and innovation are not opposing forces.

“For me, tradition and innovation are not opposites. With a group like Orpheus, the tradition is the foundation, not something to ‘replace.’ I’m excited about programming that keeps Orpheus grounded in its core identity while broadening the musical palette in thoughtful and innovative ways.”

She envisions concerts with stronger thematic shape, blending classic men’s chorus repertoire with close-harmony selections, vocal jazz, and contemporary choral works—all while preserving the signature Orpheus sound.

“One of the moments that stayed with me was guest conducting Orpheus and realizing, mid-rehearsal and then again in performance, that this was not just a chorus with a great sound; it was a true community,” Safari reflects. “You can feel when a group is simply singing notes, and you can feel when a group is singing for each other and with each other. With Orpheus, I felt the second one immediately. I remember thinking: ‘This is a group that works hard, likes to be challenged, sings beautifully, and still knows how to laugh,’ which is basically my favorite rehearsal combination.”

Singing Into the Future

As they look toward future goals—growing membership back to pre-pandemic levels, expanding audiences across Bergen, Essex, and Morris counties, and increasing scholarship funding—one thing remains constant: the sound of men standing together, breathing together, and lifting their voices as one.

Husband recalls one particularly moving encounter after a snowy winter concert at Ridgewood United Methodist Church. An elderly woman, who had walked four blocks in the cold, lingered to warm up before heading home. She told him how much the music meant to her. Moments like that remind the men of Orpheus why they sing.

As Safari puts it, “We sing as one!”

The Chorus’ spring concert will be held on May 2 at Pascack Hills High School in Montvale. Tickets are available now at ridgewoodorpheusclub.org.

Photographs by Adam Paray