Oratorio Society Celebrates 25th Season With Spring Concert

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — The Westchester Oratorio Society celebrates its 25th Anniversary Season with a performance entitled, "Conqu’ring" on April 23.

The concert, which features Bach, “Cantata” BWV 2 and “Cantata” BWV 5; Mozart, “Vespers” K. 339; Handel, “See, that Conquering Hero Comes!” from Judas Maccabeus HWV 63; and Haydn, “Insanae et vanae curae,” is being performed in memory of longtime WOS supporter Don Harder.

The chorus will be accompanied by professional soloists along with the WOS Anniversary Orchestra.

For its 25th anniversary, WOS is returning to the South Salem Presbyterian Church where the group was originally formed by church members and neighbors with the noted choral conductor Harold Rosenbaum. Now in his 16th season as Artistic Director and conductor, Benjamin Niemczyk praised his singers for the hard work and dedication that has allowed the Society to survive the Covid years and continue to keep alive the tradition of presenting great choral music to local audiences.

He said the support the group has received for its 25th Anniversary concert has enabled him to contract some of the finest young soloists and instrumentalists in the metropolitan area. He enthusiastically assures that those who attend the concert will not be disappointed.

This year's performance is made possible with a grant from the Westchester Community Foundation, whose mission is to connect generous people to the causes they care about and invest in transformative ideas and organizations to improve lives and strengthen our community. WCF is a division of The New York Community Trust, one of the largest community foundations in the country, with assets of approximately $2.6 billion, as well as additional support from an Arts Alive Project Grant administered by ArtsWestchester with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts.

“Conqu’ring” begins at 4 PM. South Salem Presbyterian Church is located at 111 Spring St., South Salem, NY. Attendees are invited to join the performers for a 25th Anniversary celebratory reception immediately following the concert.

Advance tickets, available through the group’s website, are $25 general, $40 preferred and $10 student ($30/ $50/$10 at door). Children 12 years and younger are admitted free when reserved. It is anticipated that seating will be limited for this concert. However, the venue is handicap accessible and there is ample free parking.