It's Queens Magazine
OSQ’s performs at their annual spring concert. Photo by Dominick Totino Photography
The organization is the oldest performing cultural organization in the borough. Its inception in the Spring of 1927 preceded completion of the subway in 1931 as well as the Triboro Bridge in 1940.
Through the “Great Depression” and WWII, the chorus continued to rehearse and perform, contributing to “life as usual” in the most extraordinary of times. The chorus began as the Oratorio Society of Flushing, and was later incorporated as the Oratorio Society of Queens with many members now hailing from all over the city and Long Island.
The mission of OSQ 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.
OSQ is a diverse group of singers consisting of more than 120 men and women. The singers are both young and old and come from varied backgrounds and differing levels of singing ability. There are both sight-readers as well as those who learn by ear.
Singing with the chorus is an excellent opportunity to create beautiful music with others and meet a wide range of people. According to the group, OSQ has given way to amazing lifelong friendships with experiences being “warm memories filled with music and wonderful individuals.”
If you know of a young person who would like to sing, OSQ also sponsors a Student Choral Program that offers talented high school and college students the opportunity to sing and perform with OSQ.
Auditions will take place on Monday, September 9, and Monday, September 16 at 7 p.m. If you pass the auditions, you get to automatically join the rehearsals that night.
OSQ’s Annual Holiday Concert is scheduled for Sunday, December 22. OSQ will be rehearsing Part I of Handel’s “Messiah,” plus many favorite traditional Christmas carols and Chanukah songs. The Annual Holiday Concert is performed with a professional orchestra and soloists at St. Kevin R.C. Church in Flushing.
Maestro David Close is the conductor and host of this venerable Queens tradition.
OSQ rehearses every Monday night during the season with rehearsals running from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the lower level of Temple Beth Sholom at 172nd Street and Northern Boulevard in Flushing.
For more information on rehearsals and concerts, call 718-279-3006 or visit www.queensoratorio.org
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