Gene Wisoff

Gene Wisoff came to the Mendelssohn Glee Club as guest conductor in the fall of 1993 to fill in for the ailing John Royer Bogue. After the concert, Mr. Wisoff joined the Club as a baritone, and a year later, when Bogue retired, he became the Club’s fifteenth conductor. 

Born and raised in New York City, Mr. Wisoff received a bachelor of arts in music from Brooklyn College, where he sang in the chorus and other music groups.

After college he sang in churches and syna-gogues as a soloist while studying voice and opera privately, intending to pursue a singing career. However, on occasion he conducted as well, and a turning point came in 1986, when he was offered both the choirmaster’s position at his church and a soloist position at a prestigious church in Manhattan. He chose conducting.

During his tenure as conductor, he has arranged dozens of pieces for four-part men’s chorus, many of which are performed by other vocal ensembles.

Mr. Wisoff, who has worked in arts management, has a master’s in business administration from Baruch College. He has also studied conducting at Mannes School of Music with Rudolph Palmer.