Oratorio Society
The Oratorio Society is the symphonic choir of the University of Illinois. Conducted by Dr. Andrew Major, the ensemble brings together students, faculty, staff, and community members to perform significant works of the choral-orchestral repertory at a high level of artistic excellence.
Recent seasons have included collaborations with the finest local orchestras, including the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, and the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, performing works including Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Mozart’s Requiem, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Oratorio Society is also committed to discovering and presenting important new works. In 2015, they gave the world premiere of Lewis Spratlan’s Of War, and in 2025 they gave the US premiere of Karin Rehnqvist’s Silent Earth.
Concerts and rehearsals are enriched by the diversity of the members’ life experiences — but all the singers of the Oratorio Society share a common passion for musical excellence and a belief in the ability of great choral music to transform the lives of those who perform and those who listen.
For more information about the Oratorio Society, contact Dr. Major.