The Grand Blanc Arts Council Presents:

The Annual Community Messiah Performance:

A wonderful way to begin your Christmas season, this event has become a tradition for many families in our community.

The Grand Blanc Arts Council Commmunity Chorus
-This year’s director is Jeffery Walker, co-director of the Flint Symphony

The Grand Blanc Arts Council presents the annual “Community MESSIAH Performance" each November.  This year’s event will be held in the sanctuary at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church; 9020 S. Saginaw Street in downtown Grand Blanc, on Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.

 

A volunteer community choir composed of people who enjoy singing and wish to participate will perform MESSIAH. 
 
The purpose of the Grand Blanc "Community Messiah Performance" is to nurture and expand the appreciation of this renowned music work for the broad spectrum of community members who participate in the concert.  Also, the performance provides an opportunity for people of all ages, ethnicity, religions, and genders in Genesee and surrounding counties to participate by singing in, or listening to, the selection from MESSIAH.  All are welcome.  There is no admission, but there will be a freewill offering at the door.

The Community Messiah Performance is sponsored by the Grand Blanc Arts Council.

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WHAT:  31st Annual "Community MESSIAH Performance".  MESSIAH, composed by George F. Händel in 1740, is a large musical work called an oratorio (much like an opera but with a religious theme and usually without dance, costumes, and staging) Since the first performance, people around the world have been performing this work at all times during the year.  Our specific performance will only be a portion of the entire work, since the entire work is a little over 3 hours in length.  We will however be performing music from sections four, nine, twelve, seventeen, twenty-two, twenty-four, forty-four and fifty-three. The entire audience will be invited to stand and sing section 44 the “Hallelujah” chorus with the Community Chorus.  Copies of the music will be handed out with the programs at the beginning of the performance. Also, there are free will offering baskets at all the doors.  

WHO:  In the oratorio MESSIAH, there are solos and choruses that tell the story of the Christian Messiah (God's Son).  The Community Chorus is comprised of volunteer community members who come together for rehearsals before the event.  There is no audition for the Chorus, just a willingness to sing, a love of good music, and a willingness to work together. The rehearsals are scheduled for:  Sunday, October 20,10:12-30, Sunday, October 28, 2-5:00, Sunday, November 11, 2-5:00, Saturday, November 17, 10-12:30 and Sunday, November 18 at 3:00.  There was one audition for soloists, and from that audition, 7 soloists were selected.  All of the soloists are from Grand Blanc, or Flint and surrounding areas. Soloist names are listed below. MESSIAH will be accompanied by a small ensemble and this year we are fortunate that this was made possible due to the generosity of an anonymous donor. The MESSIAH will also have accompaniment on the church’s pipe organ.

WHERE: St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church; 9020 S. Saginaw Street in downtown Grand Blanc, MI

WHEN:  Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.

WHY:  31 years ago, Frank Walker, a local businessman saw a MESSIAH sing-a-long on television and thought it would be wonderful for Grand Blanc to have something like that.  He headed the event until he retired from the position of chairman six years ago.  However, he still sings in the community choir.  Over the years there have been some changes.  For example, the Grand Blanc Arts Council came on board in the 90’s to help with costs and the actual sing-a-long evolved into a rehearsed performance. However, elements of the original concept are listed below.  

•    The performance often moves from one Grand Blanc Church to another each year.
•     A guest director from the area is invited to head both rehearsals and the performance. 

 

The Community MESSIAH performance was initiated in 1988 by Grand Blanc community members Dave and Betty Ryan and Frank Thomas and has been part of the community performance calendar since that time.  MESSIAH is an oratorio composed by George Frideric Händel in 1720.  Since it was first performed in Dublin, Ireland, it has been a staple in the repertory for choirs around the world.

SOLOISTS:
Soprano:   Maranda Dahl, Pia Broden-Williams    
Altos:    Kasie Johnson, Miranda Armfield                        
Tenor:    Aaron McCoy-Jacobs, Steven Pierce        
Bass:    Neal Fatheree      

 

Director:  This year’s director is Jeffery Walker, co-director of the Flint Symphony Chorus.