December 12, 2013: “Handel’s Messiah, a Community Sing-Along”

December 12, 2013 @ 7:30 p.m., Wayland High School. Join the Walden Forum, the WHS Sinfonia Orchestra, with Susan Memoli conducting, along with professional & audience choruses directed by the renowned Sharon Brown, from the Berklee College of Music, for our holiday community sing-along.

Our sing-along has been developed on a principle of openness. Everyone is welcome in the choir, and everyone is welcome in the performance. As an audience member you are not required to sing, but you are certainly invited to do so. If you have ever wanted to sing Messiah with a full orchestra accompaniment, this is your chance! It is the kind of event that makes our community special. We hope to have 600 revelers singing Hal-le-lu-jah and set a record for the area!

The concert includes selections from Handel’s choral masterpiece that he composed over the span of 24 days in August 1741. The first performance was given in Dublin, Ireland. It is a piece from Handel’s standard repertoire revered and performed by musicians and music lovers the world over. A true holiday tradition.

Singers of all skills are invited to sing through (Part I) of George Friedrich Handel’s choral masterpiece and most famous oratorio, Messiah. Songs include: Glory of the Lord, Thou that tellest Good Tidings, For Unto Us a Child is Born, Glory to God in the Highest, His Yoke is Easy, Behold the Lamb of God, Lift up your heads, and of course, the Hallelujah Chorus.

No prior rehearsal is scheduled. It’s kind of A ‘happening thing’—great fun and one of the best ways we know to celebrate this magnificent work and the holiday season. Come join in – sing a song or two or just listen – Come with friends, families and neighbors, old and young from all over our community and help us celebrate this great work.

After the performance everyone is invited to come join us for coffee, tea, hot chocolate and sweet treats compliments of Whole Foods.

The performance is a community “sing-along,” with professional soloists, a full orchestra, and with semi-professional and amateur choruses to provide the core support for the singing. (Audience members may bring their own score).
Here are some of the participating members of singing groups, choruses and choirs through
out our community and beyond: The WHS Chorus, Good Shepherd Choir, Peace Lutheran Church, The Golden Tones,…More to come

Featured conductors: Susan Memoli, Music Director of Fine Arts for the Wayland Public Schools, will direct the orchestra. Sharon Brown from Berklee School of Music will direct and lead the chorus.
Featured Musicians: WHS Honors Sinfonia Orchestra – Keyboardist Jody Pongratz.
Featured soloists: Soprano – Maddie Sifantus, one of our area ministers and a formidable singer. Maddie started the Golden Tones.  Alto – Holly Zagaria. Holly is an educator and performer and just completed her Carnegie Hall debut. Tenor – John Middleton-Cox. John is an educator and performer who has been a leading man in operas and musical theatre.  Bass – Stephen Murray. Stephen is the Middle School Chorus Director, General Music Teacher and Curriculum Leader.