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ORATORIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK
New York, NY · EIN 131136460 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · osny.org
revenue
$907K
expenses
$824K
net assets
$1.2M
employees
0
volunteers
12
program ratio
83%
mission · from form 990

OUR MISSION IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF NEW YORK CITY THROUGH PUBLIC PERFORMANCE OF CHORAL MUSIC

profile · synthesized from sources

The Oratorio Society of New York is a volunteer choral ensemble founded in 1873 that performs major choral works at Carnegie Hall, where it has been a resident since the venue's opening in 1891. The organization is dedicated to preserving and advancing the oratorio tradition through annual performances of Handel’s *Messiah* and other masterworks, while also commissioning and premiering new choral compositions. Based in New York City, it contributes to the city's cultural life through public concerts and by nurturing emerging vocal talent.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Annual Messiah Performance
Annual performance of Handel’s *Messiah* at Carnegie Hall, a tradition unbroken since 1874 and one of the longest-running concert traditions in American musical life.
Commissioning New Works
Initiative to commission and premiere contemporary oratorios, including the trilogy by Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell: *Sanctuary Road*, *A Nation of Others*, and *All Shall Rise*.
Lyndon Woodside Oratorio Solo Competition
A competition founded in 1977 that showcases emerging oratorio soloists, with finalists performing at Carnegie Hall; serves as a launchpad for early-career vocalists.
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Classical and Chamber Music Performances 5 activities
    • Annual concert series at major New York City venues
      Presents a public concert series at prominent venues including Carnegie Hall and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, with scheduled performances throughout the year such as concerts in November 2026, December 2026, February 2027, April 2027, and May 2027.
    • Annual performance of Handel's Messiah
      Performs Handel's Messiah annually at Carnegie Hall without interruption, maintaining a tradition since 1874 and completing 152 consecutive performances as of 2026. This performance is a cornerstone of the organization's concert season.
    • Historic contribution to New York City's choral music tradition
      Contributes to the cultural fabric of New York City through over 150 years of continuous grand choral performance, including helping inaugurate Carnegie Hall (then Music Hall) in 1891 under Tchaikovsky’s direction.
    • Lyndon Woodside Oratorio Solo Competition Finals Concert
      Organizes and presents an annual competition concert featuring eight finalists, showcasing emerging solo vocal talent in the oratorio tradition.
    • Performance of major choral works and world premieres at Carnegie Hall
      Operates a 200-voice chorus that performs oratorio masterworks and new compositions with full orchestra at Carnegie Hall, including works by Bach, Fauré, Beethoven, Brahms, and contemporary composers. Recent performances include Bach’s Mass in B minor and a concert featuring Fauré’s Requiem and Jasmine Barnes’s Portraits: Douglass and Tubman.
  • Community Choral Rehearsals & Performances 1 activity
    • Chorus membership management and auditions
      Maintains an active 200-voice performing chorus with ongoing membership and conducts regular auditions, with the next scheduled for September 1, 2026. Includes roles such as Choral Scholar to support artistic development.
  • Commissioning New Musical Works 1 activity
    • Commissioning and premiering new choral works
      Commissions and premieres new oratorio works, including the trilogy "An American Trilogy" by Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell: Sanctuary Road (Grammy-nominated in 2021), A Nation of Others (2022), and All Shall Rise (2025). The live recording of Sanctuary Road at Carnegie Hall received a Grammy nomination.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$907K
Contributions & grants$400K44%
Program service revenue$398K44%
Investment income$53K6%
Other revenue$57K
expenses
Total expenses$824K
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$1.28M
Cash$12K
Investments$1.21M
Liabilities$39K
Net assets$1.25M
Liquid reserves17.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -9.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 25
  • ALAN MELTZER — TREASURER
  • ANGEL GARDNER — DIRECTOR
  • CHARLES STEWART — DIRECTOR
  • CHRISTINA GONZALEZ — DIRECTOR
  • CLOUD HUTER — DIRECTOR
  • DEBORAH BRADLEY-KRAMER — DIRECTOR
  • DEIRDRE SCHELL — SECRETARY
  • DOUGLAS HARRISON — DIRECTOR
  • ELIZABETH SIMPSON — VICE PRESIDENT
  • ELKE D RASKOB — VICE PRESIDENT
  • ERIN FLANNERY — DIRECTOR
  • EVAN FEIN — DIRECTOR
  • GYASI BARBER — PRESIDENT
  • JANET PLUCKNETT — VICE PRESIDENT
  • JAY JACOBSON — DIRECTOR
  • JENNIFER COURY — DIRECTOR
  • JENNIFER HERRING — CHAIR
  • KATHERINE S CAHILL — DIRECTOR
  • KATRIN NAELAPAA — DIRECTOR
  • LESLIE AUSTIN — ASSISTANT TREASURER
  • LISA WATERWORTH — DIRECTOR
  • MARY VAUGHN — DIRECTOR
  • OSCAR VALLEJO — DIRECTOR
  • ROBERT CONLEY — DIRECTOR
  • SUSAN ZWANGER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 23

Who they work with

  • Andrew Carnegie Partner — Society's fifth president who championed the fundraising effort to build a new concert hall, later named Carnegie Hall.
  • BNY Mellon Partner — Provides support and assistance to the Oratorio Society of New York.
  • Bloomingdale School of Music Partner — Choral Scholar Ongama Mhlontlo serves on the voice faculty.
  • Carnegie Hall Partner — Primary performance venue and historical home since 1891.
  • Carnegie Hall Partner — Regular performance venue for the Oratorio Society of New York under Kent Tritle's direction.
  • Carnegie Hall Partner — Venue for performance of oratorio masterworks and new works, including world premieres.
  • Carnegie Hall Partner — Venue for performances including the annual "Messiah" concert.
  • Carnegie Hall Partner — Venue partner for multiple concerts including performances at Stern Auditorium and Weill Recital Hall.
  • Carnegie Hall Partner — Venue partner for public concert performances.
  • Cathedral of St. John the Divine Partner — Hosted a performance by the Oratorio Society of New York in its space.
  • Davis Polk Partner — Provides support and assistance to the Oratorio Society of New York.
  • Greenberg Traurig LLP Partner — Provides support and assistance to the Oratorio Society of New York.
  • Lexicon Classics Partner — Record label that distributes the Society's recording of A Nation of Others.
  • Mark Campbell Partner — Grammy Award-winning librettist who collaborated with the Society on three commissioned works: Sanctuary Road, A Nation of Others, and All Shall Rise.
  • Naxos Records Partner — Record label that distributes the Society's recording of Sanctuary Road.
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public funds to support the Oratorio Society of New York in partnership with the City Council.
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides public funds to support the Oratorio Society of New York.
  • Opus One Music Partner — Choral Scholar Ongama Mhlontlo serves on the piano faculty.
  • Paul Moravec Partner — Pulitzer Prize-winning composer who collaborated with the Society on three commissioned works: Sanctuary Road, A Nation of Others, and All Shall Rise.
  • Pyotr Tchaikovsky Partner — Conductor who directed the Society during the 1891 inauguration of the new Music Hall.
  • The Cathedral of St. John the Divine Partner — Hosts OSNY concerts at its venue.
  • The Juilliard School Partner — Collaborates with Juilliard's Vocal Arts Department on a graduate practicum in oratorio.
  • solocomp.org Partner — Partner website for the Lyndon Woodside Oratorio Solo Competition.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Advancing Choral Art Through New Commissions and Repertoire Expansion
    methodology: repertoire_expansion
    By commissioning new works and blending them with Baroque and Romantic masterworks, the Society advances the choral art form and broadens its artistic relevance because innovation within tradition attracts diverse audiences and sustains contemporary engagement with oratorio.
  • Music as a Vehicle for Social Justice and Communal Uplift
    methodology: music_for_social_justice
    By programming choral works centered on historical figures and themes of social justice, the Society uses music to inspire communal uplift and remembrance because artistic engagement with justice-oriented narratives fosters civic reflection and emotional connection to shared human values.
  • Performance of Choral Masterworks for Cultural and Spiritual Resonance
    methodology: spiritual_and_emotional_resonance
    By performing historically significant choral masterworks in acoustically resonant sacred spaces, the Oratorio Society of New York deepens the spiritual and emotional impact of the music, strengthening communal cultural life because the setting and repertoire together elevate the artistic and transcendent experience for audiences.