FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (11/06)
Contact: Lynn Stewart or Kelsey Johnson, Centenary News Service, 318-869-5120 or 318-841-7265, or Julia Thorn, Associate Professor of Music, at 318-869-5175

See also, The (Shreveport) Times News Brief

Centenary Invites Community to Messiah Sing-Along Dec. 5 in Brown Chapel; Fundraiser to Assist Camerata Singers With Trip to Carnegie Hall

SHREVEPORT, LA — What’s even better than hearing Handel’s Messiah? Singing it of course!

A worldwide Christmas tradition comes to Shreveport with the first Centenary College Messiah Sing-Along. Students of the Hurley School of Music are inviting all members of the Shreveport/Bossier community to become a part of this audience-participatory event on Tuesday, Dec. 5, in Brown Chapel at 8 p.m.

What is a Messiah sing-along? It is an event attended by anyone who loves music and would enjoy singing or listening to those around them sing the Advent portion of Handel’s Messiah. The excitement of the program centers around the opportunity to bring the community and campus together for an evening of song and holiday celebration.

Messiah—Handel’s most successful and best known oratorio—was composed in London in 1741 in just 24 days. Critics remark that it is astounding that a work of this magnitude could be completed in such short order, but that Handel was apparently inspired, for it was reported at the time that he said, “I think I did see all Heaven before me and the great God himself.” Messiah was first performed in Dublin, Ireland in 1742 with Handel himself conducting. The work lives on today with performances and sing-along versions in countless communities around the world.

Members of the community should either download the free choruses from www.cpdl.org or borrow a musical score from an area church. These choruses are "And the Glory of the Lord"; "And He Shall Purify"; "O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion"; "For Unto Us a Child is Born"; "Glory to God"; "His Yoke Is Easy" and "Hallelujah."

Students will perform the solos and accompaniment will be provided by a chamber orchestra of students and faculty. Associate Professor of Music Dr. Julia Thorn will conduct the work.

A suggested donation of $10 would support the Centenary Camerata in efforts to defray student costs of their upcoming Carnegie Hall performance in February. Tickets will be available at the door or from any Camerata member.

"If you do not wish to sing, feel free to come and listen to the music all around you," says Thorn. "There is no pressure to rehearse or sing like a soloist. It is a fundraising event that will inspire you for the holidays."

For more information, contact Dr. Julia Thorn, associate professor of music, at 318-869-5175.

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