Oratorio Chorus

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Oratorio Chorus is a large community chorus that presents Handel’s Messiah each December. Membership is open to all Calvin students, alumni, and community members who meet the demands of vocal technique and musicianship.

Rehearsal information: Mondays, 7:30-9:30pm (Calvin University's Covenant Fine Arts Center Recital Hall) 

Performance information: Friday, December 4 at 7:30pm and Saturday, December 5 at 3:00pm (Calvin University's Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium)  

This year, we are excited to welcome four soloists to campus to perform alongside the Calvin Oratorio Society.

• Juliet Schlefer, soprano
• Emily Marvosh, alto
• Martin Bakari, tenor
• Andrew Smith, baritone

Conductor

Contact

Explore Oratorio Society

• Auditions

  New Member Auditions - If you are new to Oratorio Society or haven't sung with the group since 2022, please sign up for an audition using this link.

  Returning Members - If you have sung with the group in 2023, 2024, or 2025 and would like to return to sing again this year, please sign up using this link.

   

• History

  One hundred and six years ago, the Calvin Oratorio Society made its debut with the first of its now traditional Christmas season performances of Handel's Messiah. 

  Since that time, the Calvin Oratorio Society has grown under the outstanding leadership of its music directors: Reese Veatch (1920–1923), Seymour Swets (1923–1967), Harold Geerdes (1967–1981), Howard Slenk (1981–1998), Pearl Shangkuan (1998–2003), Joel Navarro (2003–2014), Sean Ivory (2014–2019), Aaron Polet (2020), John Varineau (2021–2022), Sean Ivory (2023-2024), and Mark Stover (2025). 

  Since its founding, the Oratorio Society has performed many of the greatest oratorios of our time. In addition to the annual performances of Handel's Messiah, the Society's performances have ranged from a staged version of Mendelssohn's Elijah to a United States premiere of MISA 2000, a work by celebrated Filipino composer Ryan Cayabyab. 

  Other highlights of past performances include works by Bach (Easter Oratorio, St. Matthew Passion, St. John Passion), Brahms (Requiem), Handel (Saul), Haydn (Creation), Mendelssohn (St. Paul), Mozart (Exultate), Rutter (Requiem), and Vaughan Williams (Five Mystical Songs).