Oratorio Society of Queens

Specialties

The mission of the Oratorio Society of Queens is to engage, educate and uplift the Queens community by presenting musical programs that span the repertoire from great choral masterpieces to popular all-​time favorites.

We are a community-​based chorus and accomplish our mission by:

* providing our diverse membership of volunteer singers with joy-​filled rehearsal and exhilarating performance experiences that expand their musical abilities, build community and richly contribute to the cultural life of Queens,

* offering opportunities for local high school and college students to learn music theory, voice production, stage presence and civic responsibility by attending regular rehearsals and performing with the chorus, professional soloists and orchestra, and

* presenting holiday and spring concerts which are widely-​recognized as the première choice for Queens audiences who want to hear excellent choral music

History

Established in 1927.

Founded by Flushing folks who loved to sing, the Flushing Oratorio Society was Queens’ answer to the prestigious Oratorio Society of New York, founded 54 years earlier. Without the acoustics and grandeur of Carnegie Hall, the Flushing Oratorio Society brought the best of classic choral music across the East River into Queens. As the population of Queens grew and prospered, so did the Flushing Oratorio Society, and in 1985 the Society incorporated as the Oratorio Society of Queens, reflecting the expanding participation of voices from neighborhoods beyond Flushing. Today the membership is borough-​wide and even includes several Bronx and Nassau County residents.

Meet the Manager

Maestro David Close C.

Manager

David Close is the Artistic Director and Conductor of The Oratorio Society of Queens and founder, Artistic Director and Conductor of The Orchestral Arts Ensemble of Queens. David is the Music Director and Conductor of the Great Neck Choral Society.

David Close is the founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of Musica Reginae Productions, a professional classical music production arts organization in Queens.

As a pianist, Maestro Close has appeared as recitalist and also as a collaborative artist in vocal and chamber music recitals. He regularly toured with the «Paul Whiteman Historic 1924 Aeolian Hall Concert» throughout the US and Canada. He also appeared as pianist in a performance of George Antheil’s 1929 succès de scandale, «Ballet mécanique» at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Maestro Close is an active composer and arranger, and is currently the Music Director and Organist at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Forest Hills, and Organist at Temple Am Echad in Lynbrook.