Cantori New York, cited by The New York Times for its "spirit of exploration," celebrates its 25^th Anniversary Season with a series of concerts that honors its tradition of premiering important new works, as well as revisiting favorites from years past. The 2008-2009 season includes premieres by Jorge Martin, Efstratios Minakakis, Kristen Kuster, and Berndt Franke, as well as reprises of works by Michael Dellaira and Tom Cipullo. In May, the group reunites with PRISM Saxophone Quartet for another multifaceted evening of music for chorus and saxophone quartet.

Cantori New York's repertoire includes well-known choral works as well as a remarkable number of rarely performed works of merit, especially European music of the early twentieth century. The group has built a strong reputation for artistic excellence and innovative programming including the US premieres of important works by several generations of 20th century composers such as Friedrich Cerha, Pascal Dusapin, Maurice Ohana, Erkki-Sven Tüür, and Paul Crabtree. Cantori also brought to light the mysterious French composer Clément, giving the world premiere of his early cantata Ondine nearly one hundred years after its composition.

In 2008, Cantori was honored to participate in an NEA American Masterpieces Festival celebrating the legacy of Gregg Smith. In 2003, Cantori appeared on the opening season of Carnegie's Zankel Hall, singing Copland's In the Beginning under Michael Tilson Thomas. The group made its Avery Fisher Hall debut on the Great Performers Series at Lincoln Center in 1995, performing the second suite of Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande under the direction of Armin Jordan. The group has participated in concert series at Trinity Church, The World Financial Center, with the Yale Symphony Orchestra and PRISM Saxophone Quartet, and enjoys a collaboration with the verismo opera company Teatro Grattacielo.

Cantori's highly anticipated recording of two works by Paul Crabtree will be released in November 2008. The group's recording of Frank Martin's Le Vin Herbé was named Editor's Choice in Opera News magazine, and awarded the highest rating (***) in the Penguin Guide to Compact Discs. Cantori's first CD, Echoes and Shadows, featuring three American works for voices and instruments, was a best-seller at Tower Records/Lincoln Center. The group can also be heard on the CD Five by New York composer Michael Dellaira, which was called "clever and engaging" by the American Record Guide. Cantori's two holiday CDs, A Cantori Christmas and Global Voices: A Cantori Celebration have also been well-received.

The group was founded in 1984 by Bart Folse.