The Laurel Oratorio Society was founded in 1969, and officially incorporated in 1973.
The following year Virgil Thomson, a renowned conductor and composer, came to the Society to see a retrospective of his work.
The Central Maryland Chorale performs oratorios, musical excerpts, and lighter choral works approximately three times a year, in addition to its annual Christmas season sing-along of Handel's Messiah.
The chorale supports young artists each spring by providing a vocal scholarship competition.
The Central Maryland Chorale conductor and artistic director is Monica Otal and is accompanied by Dr. Theodore Guerrant.