Wayne Oratorio Society, Wayne, PA

The Wayne Oratorio Society commissioned CREATION, to commemorate their 75th Anniversary year, 2023. The Society, a vibrant, interfaith, interdenominational community of dedicated and passionate singers, is a proud ministry of the historic Wayne Presbyterian Church (WPC) in Wayne, PA, USA and is committed to delivering extraordinary choral masterworks, both classic and contemporary, three times a year.  

The CREATION commission was made possible through the generosity of a dedicated patron of the Wayne Oratorio Society, Tim Zaro.

The choir is proud to have commissioned Dan Forrest’s first full length oratorio: CREATION and to have performed the World Premiere in November 2023.   

27 members of the Wayne Oratorio Society choir who performed in the World Premiere in 2023, are singing CREATION in Ely Cathedral.

Major sacred choral works of many genres have been a part of the ministry of Wayne Presbyterian Church over the years. Records kept since 1948 attest to this unique musical tradition. It is possible that the Wayne Oratorio Society predates 1948, as evidence has been found at the Radnor Historical Society that there was a “Fourth Annual Wayne Oratorio Society Concert” in 1901. Over time, the character of the program has reflected the tenor of the church and personality of its Directors. The choir has had the names: The Gothic Choir, The Wayne Festival Chorus, The Wayne Choral Society, The Oratorio Choir, and finally The Wayne Oratorio Society, as it is now known. The tradition of involving singers from the church and community who love to sing major sacred choral works has remained a constant through all the years.