Education & Outreach
Community Outreach & Early Music Exposure
Outreach
Resonanz, our “choir for hire,” brings a small group of our singers to schools and libraries for educational programs for students in grades 3-12. We have visited City schools with songs featuring the achievements of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, including carefully researched commentary. Resonanz also sings abridged renditions of ROS concert repertoire at local libraries, taking great music to new audiences. Repertoire has included the Douglass/Tubman program, the story of the original Fisk Jubilee Singers, and Karl Jenkins’s “The Peacemakers.” Resonanz performed at six libraries and schools in 2024-2025.
In the Spotlight with Eric Townell
“In the Spotlight” presents insights and highlights from New York’s arts leaders. The Empire State is home to many vibrant and diverse performing arts companies that provide richly varied, high-quality programming to individuals of all ages and all walks of life. Hosted by Eric Townell and distributed statewide via community access television outlets and through YouTube, Roku, and Apple TV, “In the Spotlight” brings a “behind the scenes” look at the passion, imagination, vision, and skillful administration within an organization.
School & Youth Partnerships
ROS partners with schools, educators, and youth ensembles to support music education, provide meaningful performance experiences, and strengthen choral programs throughout Rochester and the surrounding region.
School Visits
Two soloists in our Resonanz Freedom Song production performed at Avon High School for the high school chorus of 22 students on September 27, 2024. A third soloist performed for 40 students at the School of the Arts in RCSD on October 30, 2024, and provided a Master Class for choral students at Roberts Wesleyan on October 31st.
Hochstein Youth Singers Urban Outreach
With support from ROS, ROCMusic Collaborative offers two Music Readiness classes, with 19 children in grades 1-3 and 18 in grades 2-5. Funds from ROS support the salary of the teacher, as well as supplies for the classes.
Choral Visits and Collaborations
ROS concerts often feature collaborations with area high schools and college choirs. In November 2024, the SUNY Geneseo Festival Singers joined us to sing our Fall concert program, which we repeated with them on the Geneseo campus. In 2025, soloist Sarah Joyce Cooper performed a solo recital and offered a masterclass to the public and campus community at Roberts Wesleyan University. The RWU Chorale joins ROS for our March 2026 performance of “Cry of Jeremiah.”
ROS also maintains relationships with choral directors in RCSD and the suburban districts. In 2025, we sang a program with students at East High School on March 28 for Music in Our Schools Day. The School of the Arts Concert Choir joins ROS for the March 2026 concert
Student & Educator Performance Opportunities
Advanced students and music educators are invited to rehearse, perform, and grow alongside the Rochester Oratorio Society through paid performance opportunities and professional development programs.
Paid Performance Opportunities for Students
The Rochester Oratorio Society offers a limited number of paid participation opportunities for high school and college students who qualify to sing with ROS for a concert cycle ($125 for each concert cycle) or a whole season ($500/year). Audition required. Choral Scholarship recipients will learn new music and share the stage as fully functioning members of ROS.
Mentoring and printed music will be are provided in addition to the cash award. Letters of recommendation will be provided for recipients upon successful completion of their time singing with ROS.
From 2023-2026, five scholarships have been awarded.
We welcome applications for paid performance opportunities with rolling admission. For more information, e-mail the Rochester Oratorio Society Office at info@rossings.org, or call (585) 473-2234. Please share with any high school or college students who may be interested!
Choral Scholars & Choral Fellows Program
The Rochester Oratorio Society’s Choral Scholars and Choral Fellows Program welcomes vocal music educators and their students to sing with the Rochester Oratorio Society for one or more concert cycles of the year. We have hosted 10 choral scholars and one choral fellow in the three years including the current season.
Choral Scholars – This program, established in 2008, is offered to experienced High School and College level singers who are interested in rehearsing and performing with ROS for a concert cycle or a whole season. Scholars attend Monday rehearsals (7-9:30 PM) and perform with ROS in the concert.
Choral Fellows – Rochester area music teachers, voice teachers, and church choir directors are cordially invited to sing choral masterworks with the Rochester Oratorio Society for only a short time commitment. These teachers are encouraged to bring with them one (or more!) of their students to share in the experience. ROS will provide a letter of support toward continuing education credits.
For more information, email the Rochester Oratorio Society Office at info@rossings.org, or call us at (585) 473-2234.
Professional Development & Career Pathways
From internships in arts administration to internationally recognized vocal competitions, ROS supports emerging artists and arts professionals at critical stages of their careers.
Internships
Working with the ROS is a great way for young artists and managers to gain practical experience and firsthand knowledge about arts presentation, ensemble management, non-profit best practices, marketing communications, volunteer management and more. University students in music business, arts management, and music programs receive weekly mentorship and instruction, then apply that knowledge through real-world operations. Pay is offered and credit may be available through your university. e-mail us to apply.
Vocal Competitions
The Oratorio Society hosts two landmark competitions annually for aspiring professional solo vocal performers. The Rochester International Vocal Competition, held virtually each fall, offers early-career professional artists the opportunity to be heard by top international industry professionals for consideration for engagements on world stages, along with cash awards. Laureates have gone on to perform at the Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and numerous other companies. Contestants in the Emerging Artist Competition “Joseph Eduardo”, presented each spring, are selected to appear for a live final contest round and may win cash awards, placement in our virtual showcase, and consideration for numerous professional engagements.