Beginnings

In the fall of 2024,​ a new charitable organization was established in south city St. Louis, under the auspices of St. Francis de Sales Oratory.

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The organization did not rise in a vacuum. Its launch follows in tandem with the renaissance of the neighborhood of Fox Park, whose anchor landmark remains the Oratory, known as "The Cathedral of South City." 

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Where inspiration meets impact

A study by Partners for Sacred Places found that since 2007 St. Francis de Sales Oratory has been a catalyst for economic impact on the neighborhood, including direct spending, education, open space, magnet effect, individual impact, and invisible safety net.  

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The aim of this nonprofit is to add inspiration -- that is, cultural enrichment through music -- to this economic impact by teaching classical music to children, providing first-encounters with world-class artists and ensembles for young audiences, and by remaining permanently anchored to the city.  ​​​​

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​​​Taking it to the street: What is an oratorio?

In ancient Rome, an oratory was a building for proclamation, for announcements, and speaking. Literally, to orate. St. Philip Neri started the tradition of oratorio as a public delivery of bible stories, sung to chant tones to better captivate the imagination. These performances, intended for the general public well beyond the catechized, eventually matured into the baroque and classical genre popularized by J.S. Bach's Christmas and Easter Oratorios, Handel's Messiah, and Mendelssohn's Elijah and St. Paul. Following in this tradition, our "oratorio" serves as a public-facing extension to the rich liturgical life emanating from the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales, of which music is a pillar, thereby serving to bring about a poeticization of space in Fox Park, beatifying the oratory's surroundings, "taking it to the street." 

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Oratorio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization led by a board of directors and supported by music lesson tuition and private donations. By learning an instrument, attending a concert, or simply making a donation, you can be a part of the renaissance in south city, making a lasting difference in the neighborhood, its business owners, its property developers, its residents, and its visitors. ​

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Since its pilot period began in 2021, Oratorio has reached more than 1,000 new audience members a year through its concerts. Oratorio has provided first-encounters for St. Louisans of all walks of life with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Notre Dame Cathedral organist Oliver Latry, St. Patrick's Cathedral NYC organist Michael Hey, Hungarian organist Sandor Balatoni, Belleville Brass, the Kingsbury Ensemble, and Floriani.   

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