60th Anniversary Season to Feature Master Choral Works
The Oratorio Singers of Charlotte celebrates its 60th anniversary with the 2011-2012 season. The season opens November 11 and 12 with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Requiem, followed by Magic of Christmas, George Fredrich Hande'ls Messiah, Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, before conclusing in May with Ludwig van Beethoven's Missa Solemnis. Special observances are planned to highlight the 60th Anniversary Season.
The Oratorio Singers of Charlotte are the Charlotte Symphony chorus and are comprised of two choruses.
Main Chorus
The OSC Main Chorus is composed of approximately 150 singers, many of whom hold graduate degrees in music. Membership is by audition with the OSC Conducting Staff. The Main Chorus performs with the Charlotte Symphony several times a year in a variety of venues and occasionally a cappella.
Oratorio Chamber Chorus
The Oratorio Chamber Chorus, founded in 1981, is recognized as one of the premier chamber choruses in the Southeast. Members are selected through competitive auditions by the OSC Conducting Staff. This select group of 24 of Charlotte’s finest singers has performed in a variety of venues including: Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC; Jazz Charlotte with Dave Brubeck at Spirit Square; and the Donald Plott Memorial Concert at Davidson College with Zubin Mehta conducting.
History of Oratorio Singers
In 1951, a group of Charlotte singers, under the direction of Earl F. Berg, founded the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte. The founding members envisioned a group that would perform great choral masterpieces, especially large-scale choral-orchestral works. In 1951, a group of Charlotte singers, under the direction of Earl F. Berg, founded the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte.
The founding members envisioned a group that would perform great choral masterpieces, especially large-scale choral-orchestral works. The first concert, held at Myers Park United Methodist Church, was a production of Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus. The performance included 68 singers and was sponsored by the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
Mr. Earl F. Berg served as Music Director until 1960 followed by Mr. Donald Plott from 1961 until 1981. Dr. Mary Nell Saunders served as Music Director from 1981 until 1993, during which time she founded both the Charlotte Youth Oratorio Singers and the Oratorio Chamber Chorus. At the conclusion of the 1992–1993 Season, the Boards of the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra merged the two organizations. The combined organizations are now able to produce large-scale choral works previously beyond the scope of either individual group.
Dr. Hugh F. Floyd served as the first Director of OSC in its new capacity as the official chorus of the Charlotte Symphony from 1993–1995. Mr. David Tang served as Director from 1996–2004. With the opening of the 2004–2005 Season, Dr. Scott Allen Jarrett began his tenure as the Music Director of the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte. Throughout its history, the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte has received funding and grant support from numerous national, state, and local organizations, including, Grassroots Arts Program of the NC Arts Council, and the Music Division of the NC Arts Council.
