Rochester Oratorio Society, Inc.

Description

The Rochester Oratorio Society, founded in 1945, is the leading choral/orchestral ensemble in Rochester, New York, and the surrounding seven-county region. Comprising approximately 145 auditioned, adult members, the ROS presents two to four performances of masterworks for chorus and orchestra from the 18th-21st centuries. The ROS has offered the local premieres of monumental works, such as the Berlioz Requiem and Britten’s War Requiem, and many performances of Handel’s Messiah, under the direction of founder Theodore Hollenbach and successors Roger Wilhelm and Eric Townell. The ROS has performed concert tours to Italy, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and China; performed a live, one-hour televised concert for WXXI’s "Voices" series; collaborated with the region’s finest vocalists, instrumentalists, ensembles and artists in other disciplines; commissioned and premiered major works; hosted choirs from Canada and from major cities in the U.S.; appeared regionally in concert venues on college campuses, in performing arts centers and churches, and initiated a solo vocal competition of national stature which continues to this day. Following an acclaimed performance of Handel’s Messiah in 2012 with the RPO under Eric Townell, the ROS was engaged for three performances for the 2013-14 season. A further four RPO performances followed in the 2014-15 season, including the first choral engagement in Rochester with incoming Music Director, Ward Stare. The relationship continues through scheduled performances in 2018, 2019 and beyond.