Suffolk County's Long Island Symphonic Choral Association (LISCA) was founded by Gregg Smith in 1968, when he was at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Despite having moved to New York City, Mr. Smith maintained devotion to LISCA for over 40 years, traveling to Suffolk County every Tuesday night to rehearse the group. Under his guidance, LISCA has developed into a seasoned chorus noted for its fine intonation and blend and for the imaginative programming that is Mr. Smith's hallmark. The group repertory ranges from the Renaissance masters to the avant-garde, an includes premiers of many works of contemporary composers. The chorus has toured in France and England (in 1997), Iceland (2000), Ireland (2003), and Argentina (2010).

Our Director, Thomas Schmidt, is Director of Music at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church in Manhattan, and organizes the weekly concert series there on Tuesdays. Eleven years ago he founded the annual Basically Bach Festival at Saint Peter's, now an anticipated part of New York's yearly musical scene. He is been pianist with the Arden Trio since it was founded in 1979. They won the Concert Artist's Guild award in 1981, and have toured throughout the country and recorded on several labels.

LISCA's Founder and Conductor Emeritus, Gregg Smith, led LISCA for over 40 years. He is world-famous as a choral conductor  and as a composer. His professional chorus, the Gregg Smith Singers, is internationally known and widely recorded. In 2001 Chorus America awarded the GSS the Margaret Hillis award for choral excellence. In November 2003, the American Composers Alliance presented Gregg with its Laurel Leaf Award for "distinguished achievment in fostering and encouraging American Music". In 2008 the NEA awarded Gregg and the GSS a grant which supported a major choral festival celebrating American Masterpieces.

In December 2008, LISCA and Gregg Smith were named "People of the Year in the Arts" by the Times Beacon Record.

 
LISCA's funding comes, in part, from the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, which is administered in Suffolk County by the Huntington Arts Council; and from Suffolk County's Department of Economic Development, Division of Cultural Affairs; and from individual and business donations. A copy of LISCA's last annual report, filed with the New York State Board of Social Welfare, may be obtained by writing to the Board, Office Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany NY 12223, or to LISCA, 6 Bobs Lane, Setauket, NY 11733.

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