Local 802 members know very well that music is the secret weapon of the labor movement: it can spice up even the most boring picket lines or marches. Which would you rather hear: speeches from politicians…or live music? But did you know that New York City has a chorus that specializes in songs from the labor movement — and that a Local 802 member provides the accompaniment…under a union contract, of course!

Our members belong to over 20 different unions, and we promote union solidarity and social justice through song. Our repertoire tells the story of labor’s history and ongoing struggles, drawing on gospel, jazz, classical, and folk traditions.

We sing on the noisiest picket lines and we also sing in hallowed performance spaces like Carnegie Hall. Since 1991 we’ve brought our musical message to unions, community centers, protests and stages throughout the New York area and to Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Sweden and Wales.

The New York City Labor Chorus brings labor’s message wherever we can, sharing the importance of unions in the struggle for social and economic justice and encouraging solidarity among working people everywhere.

The chorus got its start in 1991 when a group of labor activists decided the union movement needed more music. With the help of several New York City union locals and support from the legendary Local 802 member Pete Seeger, chorus members began rehearsing in a public-school auditorium. They built a repertoire of labor, civil rights, and protest songs from the United States and around the world — a repertoire that continues to grow as the times demand.

Over the years the chorus has sung on picket lines, at labor rallies, at the 1992 Democratic National Convention, and at a Carnegie Hall tribute to Paul Robeson. We performed at Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center’s Roots of American Music Festival, the United Nations, and on Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Around the Campfire” album. The chorus also sings at the annual memorial to the victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist fire and the yearly New York City Labor Day Parade. Last summer we marched and sang on the picket line in solidarity with the striking writers and actors.

The New York City Labor Chorus took its first overseas trip in 1997, when two Swedish unions hosted a tour of that country. After that came a visit to sing at Toronto’s 2005 Mayworks celebration and a tour of southern Wales with famed Welsh miners’ choral groups in 2009. We traveled to Cuba in 2011, singing with choral groups at labor and cultural centers. Just a month before the Covid lockdown in 2020, we sang in Puerto Rico for unions, schools, Casa Pueblo, and the Conservatorio de Musica in San Juan. After the inevitable hiatus caused by the pandemic, the chorus resumed in-person rehearsals and a full performance schedule.

Our accompanist, Local 802 member Dennis Nelson (pictured here), is a keyboardist, songwriter and arranger, and is originally from Brooklyn (where he still lives). He attended the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and is a graduate of Hofstra University. He is the organist and choir director for Trinity Baptist Church in Brooklyn and is teacher of music. Besides being a member of Local 802, he’s also a member of the United Federation of Teachers.

Over the years, Dennis has worked with various musical aggregations and soloists covering a variety of musical genres. He has also, since 2008, been one of the accompanists for “Call Mr. Robeson,” the award-winning play about the life of Paul Robeson. An ASCAP-affiliated writer, he recently released his debut solo piano project, entitled “Healing (Meditative Moments).” Dennis has been blessed over the years to share his talents locally, nationally and abroad, providing inspiration, encouragement, comfort and healing through the ministry of music The New York City Labor Chorus is proud that Dennis works with us under a Local 802 union contract. He collaborates beautifully with our wonderful music director, Jana Ballard who is a member of the United Federation of Teachers. She teaches at the La Guardia High School of Music and Art.

To learn more about the chorus (and to sing with us), visit  www.nyclaborchorus.org.

P.S… Click the image below (or click here) to watch the video of our new version of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”/ “Life on Earth, So Amazing/Hallelujah!” The new words and the video were inspired by the first photograph of Earth from space. Known as “Earthrise,” this magnificently humbling image is a cry for peace and tells us that all of Mother Earth is truly a Holy Land.

This article was contributed by the New York City Labor Chorus. Send any feedback to: allegro@local802afm.org.