The Townsville Oratorio Choir was a project choir which came together every year to perform an Oratorio. The Choir was formed in 1988 when the Choir made its debut with a performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ at St. James Cathedral.
Over the years, most of the Oratorios have been performed at St. James Cathedral or St Margaret Mary’s Church except for Handel’s “Messiah” in 1995 which was performed at the Townsville Civic Theatre and in the Burdekin, and in 1997 the Choir once again performed ‘Messiah’ after being invited by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra to join them in a very exciting and successful performance at the Townsville Civic Theatre.
The Townsville Oratorio Choir was conducted by Mr. Neil Smith and was comprised of singers from N.Q.O.M.T’s “The Company Singers” and from the Townsville and District communities in general. For example, singers from the Burdekin and Magnetic Island joined the Choir each year.
In 2001, the Choir was joined for the first time by the Barrier Reef Chamber Orchestra.
Early 2012 the Townsville Oratorio Choir was officially wound up on the retirement of many of the committee members including the conductor Neil Smith and there was no 2012 performance of an Oratorio.
The performance of an oratorio in Townsville was proposed to continue in 2013 with The Company Singers (the choir of the North Queensland Opera & Music Theatre) under conductor Meghan Walsh.
Past Events/Performances
| Year | Oratorio | Venue |
| 1988 | Handel’s MESSIAH | St. James Cathedral. |
| 1989 | Handel’s MESSIAH | St. James Cathedral. |
| 1990 | Haydn’s CREATION | St. James Cathedral. |
| 1991 | Handel’s MESSIAH | St. James Cathedral. |
| 1992 | Mendelssohn’s ELIJAH | St.James Cathedral. |
| 1993 | Faure’s REQUIEM & Vivaldi’s GLORIA | St. James Cathedral. |
| 1994 | Mozart’s REQUIEM & Schubert’s MASS IN G MAJOR | St. James Cathedral. |
| 1995 | Handel’s MESSIAH | Townsville Civic Theatre and in the Burdekin. |
| 1996 | Haydn’s CREATION | St. James Cathedral. |
| 1997 | Handel’s MESSIAH with Queensland Symphony Orchestra | Townsville Civic Theatre. |
| 1998 | Bach’s SLEEPERS, WAKE! & Brahm’s REQUIEM (a German Requiem) | St. James Cathedral. |
| 1999 | Handel’s JUDAS MACCABEUS | St. James Cathedral. |
| 2000 | Mendelssohn’S ELIJAH | St.James Cathedral. |
| 2001 | Handel’s MESSIAH joined for the first time by the Barrier Reef Chamber Orchestra. | St. James Cathedral. |
| 2002 | Faure’s REQUIEM & Vivaldi’s GLORIA | St. James Cathedral. |
| 2003 | (No Performance) | |
| 2004 | Mozart’s REQUIEM & Brahms’ SONGS OF LOVE (LIEBESLIEDER WALTZES) | St. James Cathedral. |
| 2005 | “Great Oratorio Favourites” – excerpts from ‘Messiah’, ‘Elijah’, ‘Creation’, ‘A German Requiem’, ‘Judas Maccabeus’, and many more. | St. James Cathedral. |
| 2006 | THE ARMED MAN – A Mass For Peace by Karl Jenkins Missa Solemnis in C (KV337) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Blessed Be The God And Father by Samuel Wesley | St. James Cathedral. |
| 2007 | Puccini’s MESSA DI GLORIA and Cherubini’s REQUIEM in C | St Margaret Mary’s Theatre (old church) |
| 2008 | Karl Jenkins “THE ARMED MAN – A Mass for Peace” & John Rutter’s REQUIEM | St Margaret Mary’s Theatre (old church) |
| 2009 | Handel’s MESSIAH | St Margaret Mary’s Theatre (old church) |
| 2010 | Haydn’s “MASS IN TIME OF WAR” (Paukenmesse) & Faure’s REQUIEM | St Margaret Mary’s Theatre (old church) |
| 2011 | Mozart’s REQUIEM & Schubert’s MASS IN G | St Margaret Mary’s Theatre (old church) |
