Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra To Perform Handel’s ‘Messiah’
For the 26th consecutive year the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra continues its holiday tradition of presenting Handel’s Messiah and collecting non-perishable food items for the Mid-North Food Pantry. Concert collaborators include Christian Theological Seminary, Encore Vocal Arts, and Tabernacle Presbyterian Church.
Grab your score and experience the newest holiday tradition in Indianapolis. Join the ICO at the only Messiah Sing-Along in Indiana for your opportunity to perform beloved selections from Handel’s Messiah at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Indiana Landmarks Center. On at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra presents the full oratorio of Handel’s Messiah at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church. Come enjoy Handel’s beloved masterwork true to the composer’s intentions: an intimate orchestra displaying the intricate vocal lines to their full majesty.
If you are interested in learning more, join the ICO and Christian Theological Seminary for a pre-concert lecture by Hebrew Bible Scholar Dr. Richard H. Lowery, Affiliate Professor at CTS and Dr. Matthew Myer Boulton, President and Professor of Theology at no additional cost. The pre-concert lecture begins at 6:45 p.m. in the Cook Theater at the Indiana Landmarks Center on Saturday evening, and at 2:15 p.m. in the church parlor at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon.
Music Director Kirk Trevor will conduct the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, four acclaimed soloists, 70 vocalists from Encore Vocal Arts, and the Sanctuary Choir of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church in Handel’s famous oratorio. The soloists are talented and distinguished. Mireille Asselin, soprano, is a young artist at the onset of an exciting career, deemed “Superb” by the Los Angeles Times. Angela Young Smucker, mezzo-soprano, appeared in the ICO’s 2011 Messiah concerts, and has earned praise for her “rich, secure mezzo-soprano” (Chicago Tribune). Tenor Derek Chester and bass Michael Dean complete the quartet with Chester’s “beautifully shaped and carefully nuanced singing,” and Dunbar who has been lauded for being “the standout, his voice a penetrating wake-up call.”
The ICO’s Messiah Sing-Along concert at the Indiana Landmarks Center will consist of selected movements, airs, and choruses from the first section and the ever popular Hallelujah Chorus. The Sing-Along will give local singers the opportunity to participate in a performance with professional soloists and a professional orchestra. Audience members can download a score from icomusic.org, borrow or purchase a score at the performance.
The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra’s ongoing mission is to advance and promote music composed for the small orchestra through professional concert performances and educational programs. Filling a much-needed role in the community, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra also provides accompaniment to many area arts and educational organizations. The ICO offers a variety of educational programs, including the FUNtastic Classics series and the ICO Youth Ensembles.
The FUNtastic Classics series introduces elementary school children to the instrument groups of the orchestra and the concept of communicating ideas through music. The ICO Youth Ensembles include a wind and jazz group, comprised of high school musicians from schools throughout central Indiana. The auditioned ensembles provide students with an excellent learning opportunity that allows them to explore their musical abilities and expand their knowledge.
Tune in to WFYI, 90.1 FM each Monday evening at 10 p.m. to hear the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra Broadcast featuring excerpts of live ICO concerts.
Intimate concert experiences, classic repertoire, and original programming are all part of the ICO experience. For more information about the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and its 30th “Intimate, Classical, Original” season, visit icomusic.org, call (317) 940-9607, or email [email protected].