History of the Oratorio Society

The Oratorio Society of Charlottesville-Albemarle was founded in 1967 for the purpose of presenting major choral works with orchestra and professional soloists to the Charlottesville-Albemarle community. Under the guidance of a Board of Directors and several music directors, we have been faithful to that purpose for more than 40 years. Chorus members are of all ages and from all walks of life — all have considerable choral singing experience, and some are professional musicians and music teachers.

We have had the good fortune to have been led by a succession of talented and passionate music directors. Each of these directors has brought a distinctive style and taste to the organization.

The Oratorio Society had the privilege of presenting the world debut of The Pleasure's in Walking Through: A Song of the Seasons in March 1998. This piece was composed by internationally recognized Walter Ross, of Charlottesville. Text is from The Oxford Book of Carols and the poems of Rita Dove, former Poet Laureate of the United States and Commonwealth Professor of English at the University of Virginia.

In March 1999 The Oratorio Society joined the Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra in presenting Beethoven's Mass in C. This was the first collaboration of these two groups. 

In March 2000 The Oratorio Society presented the first live performance in the Charlottesville area of Handel's Israel in Egypt.

In January 2005 the Oratorio Society and Orchestra performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to a sold-out house in the newly-restored Paramount Theater on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall.   In 2006 and 2007 the Society brought concert performances of opera (Verdi’s La Traviata and Rigoletto) to the area.

The Society usually performs in December (the traditional Christmas concert), March and May.