Membership Information

Welcome to the oldest choral organization in Sussex County!  We are delighted that you may be considering joining our group. We hope that you will find much joy in sharing our love of music and song, as we strive to present high-quality choral music to the community.  

We have all heard the old adage:  “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.”  Well, a chorus is only good when it is well rehearsed and has a cohesive sound.  In order to achieve a unified, harmonious sound, it is most important that our members make every effort to attend all of the rehearsals.  We ask that each member miss no more than 4 rehearsals per semester.  We want all of our members to have the best experience possible.

Rehearsals & Participation

• New members are required to audition for the group.  Sight reading is not a requirement but you must be able to sing in tune
• We rehearse on Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 pm at Christ Church, 62 Main St, Newton, NJ from the first Monday after Labor Day in September until the concert, the first Sunday in December. The Spring Semester starts in late January with concert scheduled for the first Sunday in May
• There may also be some special pre concert rehearsals – scheduled on an as needed basis and a dress rehearsal, usually the day before the concert.
• Under normal circumstances, it is expected that a member shall miss no more than four (4) rehearsals per semester.
• We expect members to join us in our spring fundraising effort which is an important source of revenue to enable us to maintain a high level of performance. An annual amount of $100 is required which can be by personal or business donation. See the Donation tab for further details. 
• Dues and a share of the cost of music is currently $50 per semester for adults and $35 for students, due at the first rehearsal of each semester

Performances

• May and December  - the 1st Sunday in the month
• Dress rehearsal, with instruments, is usually held the Saturday before the performance.
• There may be other performance opportunities during or between semesters that will depend on need and members’ availability. 

Concert Attire 

Women wear a floor length, Empire waist, navy blue gown with a scoop neck, three quarter

sleeves and inverted front pleats for a soft look in the front. There is a small sash which ties in

the back for easy adjustment. It is made of a soft, performance knit fabric which is both

comfortable to wear and easy to care for. 

Women are asked to provide closed toed shoes and simple jewelry ( earrings and necklace ) to finish this elegant look. The gowns are purchased through the Oratorio Society from Formal Fashions Inc. at a cost of $80 for each member. The Oratorio Society will cover both shipping and any extra cost for larger sizes.

Men wear a black, two button blazer and navy blue satin bow tie matching the women's

gowns. The blazer and bow tie are purchased through the Oratorio Society from Formal fashions Inc. for $80 for each member. The Oratorio Society will cover both shipping and any extra cost for larger sizes. The men will provide a white shirt, black pants and black shoes.

All member of the choir are required to have a 3-ring black binder to hold their music .

Social Gatherings

We are a friendly group and love to get together to socialize and share good food and fellowship.   Friendship and fun are just two of the “perks” of being a Sussex County Oratorio member – along with the joy of making music together.