Morehead State University students will combine with community singers for a performance of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 123 E Main St. The performance will include the Christmas portion of the oratorio and conclude with the famed chorus, “Hallelujah.” The organist for the concert will be MSU instructor of music William Murphy. The conductor will be Dr. Greg Detweiler, director of choral studies and professor of music.
The choir consists of community singers and MSU music majors. Soloists include Dr. Eric Brown, assistant professor of music, and Dr. David Gregory, dean of library sciences and minister of music at First Baptist Church. MSU voice majors singing solos are:
— Jasmine Wheeler, a graduate student from Butler.
— Janessa Broadhurst, a senior from Louisville.
— Noah Bruce, a junior from Louisville.
— Aarika Castle, a junior from Taylorsville.
MSU alum, Adrian Jacob, will begin the sung story with the recitative, “Comfort Ye.” “We started this choir many years ago to join the community and the campus,” said Detweiler. “Each year, the group works on a Christmas presentation. ‘Messiah’ is usually presented once every three years.” Detweiler continued, “There is one person who has held the choir together, which no one will see in the performance, and that is Genny Jenkins. Genny, who is the minister of music at First Christian Church and the gifted coordinator and instructor for Rowan County Schools, serves as our rehearsal accompanist. We are so very grateful for her contributions to the group. There would be no choir without her help.”
The concert is free and open to the public.
