Previously known as The Burnt Hills Oratorio Society
The Power of Singing

About

About Us

Who is Saratoga Voices?

Saratoga Voices Inc. 501(c)(3) is a not-for-profit corporation chartered in the State of New York, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and a paid bookkeeper. Music is under the direction of our professional artistic director and assistant conductor. Members of the chorus are volunteers, augmented by paid soloists. Although we do not have a formal audition process, singers meet periodically with the director to determine vocal placement. 

Mission Statement

Saratoga Voices embraces the choral arts within a vibrant, collaborative, and skill-nurturing environment, striving for excellence in choral performances, including diverse artists and audiences to share the joy and power of singing.

“If it involves singing, we love to do it”
Dr. William Jon Gray, Former Artistic Director, Saratoga Voices

Did You Know?

Choral singing brings a wide range of benefits, especially physical, psychological, emotional, and social. In America, over 42 million people sing in choirs. Each voice is unique, like a forensic voice print.

Our Story

Past

In 1970, Glenn E. Soellner, a dynamic music educator in the Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake school district, founded The Burnt Hills Oratorio Society. His vision was to gather talented singers and instrumentalists to perform the great choral master works, often referred to as Oratorios. The result was a vibrant choral organization that became known for its artistic excellence.

Present

In recent years, the Burnt Hills Oratorio Society, now Saratoga Voices, started to diversify its repertoire and broaden the definition of choral arts in the greater Capital Region. The organization not only found great joy in performing a variety of music, it also enjoyed a larger audience and greater following.  It was operating at a higher level of artistic achievement and featuring guest artists with a national reputation.

New Name

The organization realized that the name Burnt Hills Oratorio Society no longer represented who they were. They were performing in various locations throughout the Capital District and their repertoire included a broad spectrum of music. It was time to change their name to something that was a better fit. Hence the name Saratoga Voices.

Future

Saratoga Voices is crafting a bold new vision into the 2020s to reflect its rich and diverse humanity. With the contribution of its many Voices, it will embrace new ways to share the power of singing. The vision is to reinvent the choral arts with innovative performance formats.

OUR VISION

Expand

Increase the choral arts repertoire to include musical theater, folk, gospel, a cappella, rock, and world premieres.

Innovate

Create state-of-the-art programming with audience participation, multimedia, and visual arts.

Educate

Provide an educational component with training, resources, and performance opportunities.

Cultivate

Nurture appreciation of and support for the choral arts regionally and nationally.

Nurture

Highlight the health and social benefits of singing in a large, diverse, and committed choral group.

Engage

Continue to grow as a vital part of the greater Saratoga region’s artistic and cultural life.

Mentor

Mentor school and university choral groups. Feature guest artists from young artist programs.

Collaborate

Work as partners with instrumentalists, dancers, and arts organizations to produce unique choral experiences.

Years of music making

Vocal Scholarships awarded

Concerts Performed

Choral Voices, Soloists, and instrumentalists

Scholarships Awarded

What are people saying about Saratoga Voices!

"I have worked with the Burnt Hills Oratorio Society [now Saratoga Voices] since 1984 from the tenure of Glenn Soellner to its [current] director...

I have been concertmaster of the orchestra for most of that time, as well as contractor. The passion and enthusiasm for singing the chorus displays is both contagious and delightful. Under the leadership of Dr. Gray and Derek Stannard the quality of singing continues to refine, and it's a joy to make music with the group. Dr. Gray's leadership a few seasons ago of Haydn's Creation was one of the highlights of my many years of orchestral playing. Here is wishing BHOS an incredible next 50!!"

Ann Marie Schwartz Director, Musicians Of Ma'alwyck

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