Long Island Symphonic Choral Association
Long Island Symphonic Choral Association
Performing serious choral music in Suffolk County for over 50 years!
Eric R. Stewart
Eric R. Stewart-conductor

Our Conductor


Eric Stewart has been conducting LISCA since May, 2017.


Eric currently serves as the co-director of Lex54 Concerts (New York), composer-advisor to the ensemble Les Plaisirs Non-Coupables (Quebec,) composer-in-residence at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church (New York,) and conductor of the Tzu Chi Youth Chamber Orchestra (East Williston, Long Island.)


Eric studied composition and conducting at the Peabody Conservatory(B.M. and M.M.,) and earned a doctorate in composition from the University of Toronto. His compositions have been performed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

Tom Schmidt-conductor emeritus

Conductor Emeritus

Thomas Schmidt conducted LISCA from 2005 through 2016. Before his recent retirement, he was Director of Music at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church in Manhattan, where he organized the weekly Tuesday concert series.. 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.

Gregg Smith-founder of LISCA

Our Founding Conductor


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. Mr. Smith passed away in 2016, at the age of 84. Under Thomas Schmidt, conductor from 2005 to 2016, LISCA's reputation for excellence flourished. The group repertory ranges from the Renaissance masters to the avant-garde, and includes premiers of many works of contemporary composers. Since 2017, LISCA has been led by Eric Stewart. The chorus has toured in France and England (1997), Iceland (2000), Ireland (2003), Argentina (2010), Italy (2013), the Baltic States (2016), and Scotland (2019).


Read about our Baltic trip.


View photos from our Scotland trip.


© Long Island Symphonic Choral Association