The Oratorio Society of Virginia

10/27/2026

What makes live choral music different from listening to a recording? Our singers had a lot to say about that.

One told us that singing offers a refuge: “In a crazy, conflicted, contentious world, singing is a refuge.”

Another described what happens when a large chorus works toward a common musical goal: “The total musical experience is greater than the sum of the parts.”

And another put it simply: bringing many different voices together is “a labor of love… joyous hard work” that can “liven the heart, quiet the spirit, and encourage the soul.”

That experience, the sound of voices and instruments sharing the same room with an audience, is why we believe live choral music still matters. It is collective. It is immediate. And every performance exists only once, in that particular moment, between the people making the music and the people listening.

If you haven’t experienced a large chorus live recently, we’d love to change that.
Explore The Oratorio Society of Virginia and discover what’s coming next! Link to our website in our bio.

10/20/2026

Haven’t sung since school? One of our singers hadn’t auditioned for a choir in 50 years.

They decided to try anyway. Their advice to someone wondering whether it’s too late to return to singing? “Do it… I did! My audition was my first in fifty years, and I got in!”

That story isn’t as unusual as you might think. Among the singers who responded to our recent community questionnaire, we heard again and again about rediscovering music after years away. Many of our singers are people who sang as children, in school or church choirs, and then found their way back to choral music much later in life.

A great chorus isn’t made up of people with identical musical journeys. It’s made up of people willing to listen, learn, work together, and sing!

Curious about the choral arts, or wondering whether there might be a place for you?

Visit us on the web (link in our bio) and get to know The Oratorio Society of Virginia.

10/14/2026

A chorus is bigger than any one voice... We asked our singers what community means when more than 100 people come together to sing.

One answer captured it beautifully: “Elevating each other to make music we could not accomplish on our own.”

Another described choral singing as “working together…to achieve something greater than ourselves individually.”

That idea runs throughout the responses we received.

Our singers come to The Oratorio Society of Virginia with very different histories. Some have sung with the chorus for more than a decade. Others have been members for only a season or two. In fact, nearly half of the 35 singers who responded to our questionnaire are relatively recent members—about three years or less. They sing soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. They have different careers, interests, ages, and musical backgrounds. But week after week, those individual voices become an ensemble.

That may be one of the extraordinary things about choral music: no single singer creates the sound. Everyone creates it together.

Come hear what that sounds like! Learn more about our concerts and the choral arts. Link in our bio.

10/12/2026

Avoid secondary ticket site scams and overpriced tickets! Only use links on our website oratoriosociety.org to buy tickets for our concerts. We've already had reports of people buying way overpriced tickets and then being told they would get their seat confirmation just 24-48 hours before the concert. We can't help our audience with issues related to tickets purchased from secondary sites.

Experience the Joy and Transformative Power of Choral Music Christmas at The Paramount | Vivaldi's "Magnificat" | December 19, 2026 | Together in Song - Music from Hungary | Liszt's "Missa Choralis" | March 13, 2027 | "Carmina Burana" | with Charlottesville Ballet | May 14 & 15, 2027 | Season 59 - 2...

10/10/2026

Doctors, educators, scientists, business leaders—our singers come from every professional background imaginable. But every week, they leave their workday stress at the door for two hours of pure focus, artistic challenge, and collective harmony.

Choral singing isn't just an art form; it’s an evidence-based pathway to mental wellness, resilience, and meaningful social connection.

On , The Oratorio Society of Virginia celebrates the power of the arts to nurture healthy, connected communities.

Interested in seeing how music can transform your week? Learn more about our upcoming season and community initiatives at the link in our bio. 🎶

10/07/2026

🎶 GUEST YOUTH CHOIR SPOTLIGHT 🎶

We’re delighted to welcome two talented youth choirs to "Christmas at The Paramount" on Saturday, December 19th!

✨ 2:30 p.m. performance: Voces Laetae, community youth choir, directed by Will Cooke
✨ 7:30 p.m. performance: Albemarle High School Patriot Singers directed by Jennifer Morris

Each guest choir will share a few selections of its own and also join The Oratorio Society of Virginia chorus for a rousing rendition of “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

We can’t wait to hear these young voices fill The Paramount and come together with our chorus for this special celebration of the season!

09/30/2026

"Choir is my outlet from work. I call it controlled screaming as stress relief!" - current chorus member 😂🎤

Beyond creating music, group singing is good for the mind, body, and spirit. It offers a structured space to disconnect from daily stress, learn musical skills, and focus completely on the present moment. It also reminds us that we're all part of something bigger than ourselves.

How does music help you unwind after a long day? Let us know in the comments! 👇

09/23/2026

"You make lifelong connections with fellow members, keep developing your skills, and get to bring the sounds and experiences heard centuries ago to today’s audiences. There’s really nothing like it." — Bethanie Glover, Soprano & Board Vice President 🎤✨

From singing Vivaldi’s "Gloria" in college to performing with the Richmond Symphony Chorus and Charlottesville Opera, Bethanie knows firsthand the magic of choral music. We’re so glad to have her in our community!

What’s your favorite choral piece to listen to or sing? Let us know in the comments! 👇

09/16/2026

🎶 Final round of auditions for The Oratorio Society of Virginia! oratoriosociety.org/sing-with-us

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now’s the time to add your voice to the chorus. We have a final round of auditions this Friday! We’d love to hear singers in every section—and there’s especially good room in the tenor and bass ranks.

Come sing with us and be part of something powerful, joyful, and beautifully collaborative. 🎵

Audition to Sing with Us Join a dedicated group, united by a shared passion. Fall 2026 AuditionsThursday, September 3, 4:00-6:00 p.m.Friday, September 4, 4:00-7:00 p.m.Saturday, September 5, 1:00-2:30 p.m.at the Municipal Arts Center, 1119 5th St. SW, Charlottesville(please email tosvachoruschair@gm...