The Central Maryland Chorale, formerly known as the Laurel Oratorio Society, is a classical music choral group based in
Laurel, Maryland. The Laurel Oratorio Society was founded in 1969, and officially incorporated in 1973. The following year
Virgil Thomson, a renowned conductor and composer, came to the Society to see a retrospective of his work.
The Central Maryland Chorale performs
oratorio
An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is mus ...
s, musical excerpts, and lighter choral works approximately three times a year, in addition to its annual Christmas season sing-along of Handel's ''
Messiah
In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; ,
; ,
; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of ''mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach'' ...
''.
The chorale supports young artists each spring by providing a vocal scholarship competition. The competition is open to high school seniors between the ages of 16–19.
The Central Maryland Chorale conductor and artistic director is Monica Otal and is accompanied by Dr. Theodore Guerrant.
References
History of the Laurel Oratorio Society
External links
*
Choral societies
Organizations based in Maryland
Laurel, Maryland
Musical groups established in 1969
1969 establishments in Maryland
{{Classical-ensemble-stub