SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2026
1:30–5:00 pm • Rain or Shine
MEET-UP:
St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church (West End Avenue at 86th St.)
1:30
CHOIRS
2:30
PARADE-GOERS
PARADE:
Riverside Park, from 86th Street. to Pier I at 71st St.
3:30 - 4:30
Sing or simply March along with us!
PERFORMANCE:
Pier I
4:30 - 5:00
Choral performance of Joy, Turn & Home from The Book of Rounds
Choir Director: James John ~ Marching Band Director: Alex Jung
Produced by October Project Music: Marina Belica, Emil Adler, Julie Flanders
Notice of Filming and Photography
Photographers and/or news media will be present at this event. By participating and being present during the event, you give October Project and Make Music NY the right to use photographs and video/audio recordings taken of you during the event for promotional purposes and for sharing with social and external news media. If you do not wish to appear in photographs or be recorded, please do not register for the event.
THE VIRTUAL CHOIR OF JOY
LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE BOOK OF ROUNDS
“Joy” is one of 21 original musical rounds comprising the song cycle The Book of Rounds: 21 Songs of Grace, written by Julie Flanders and Emil Adler.
MEET THE PEOPLE
James John
James John is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College-CUNY where he conducts the Queens College Vocal Ensemble, the Queens College Choral Society, and heads the graduate program in choral conducting. Dr. John also serves as Artistic Director of the Manhattan-based vocal ensemble, Cerddorion (www.cerddorion.org). He received his doctorate in conducting from the Eastman School of Music.
In addition to guest conducting and lecture appearances overseas in Tokyo, Freiburg, Basel and Stockholm, he has conducted in many of New York's prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Weill Recital Hall and St. Patrick's Cathedral. He has also contracted choirs for Josh Groban, including appearances on The Tonight Show and the opening ceremonies of the U.S. Open, as well as for his Stages tour of New York City.
He received the Queens College President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in April of 2025.
