Oratorio Society of New York

The Oratorio Society of New York (OSNY), founded in 1873 by Leopold Damrosch, is among the oldest musical organizations in the United States and has set the standard for grand choral performance in New York City. Instrumental in the early efforts to build a new concert hall, the Society's fifth president, Andrew Carnegie, took up the cause, leading to the inauguration of Carnegie Hall in 1891 with a performance under the direction of Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The Society continues to perform at Carnegie Hall, holding annual performances of Handel’s Messiah since 1874, which have become a cherished holiday tradition. In addition to collaborations with the New York Philharmonic and The Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the Society also performs internationally, with recent concerts in Japan, Uruguay, Germany, Italy, and Brazil. Committed to commissioning new works, OSNY has recently championed pieces by Pulitzer prize-winning composer Paul Moravec. The membership includes both amateur and professionally trained singers, with auditions held bi-annually. Governed by a volunteer board of directors and supported by a professional music staff, OSNY operates as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.