Each year in December, the First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich creates a true community musical event for local singers and music lovers with the First Church Festival Chorus to present the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah.
This year’s performance will be held at the church Meetinghouse on Saturday, December 13, at 4:00 pm and will be livestreamed on the church’s YouTube channel. But the fun begins for the singers on Monday evening, December 9, at 7:30 pm, with a no-audition rehearsal; an additional dress rehearsal with the orchestra is scheduled for Wednesday evening, December 11, also at 7:30.
“For many in the Greenwich community, it’s not Christmas until they experience our Messiah concert.” said Dr. Craig Scott Symons, Minister of Music at First Church since 2010. “We welcome anyone who has some choral experience to join the Festival Chorus and experience the joy of performing this beloved work with the First Church Chamber Orchestra.”
This year is the church’s 60th anniversary of this holiday concert and to mark this milestone, Symons is adding 2 more choruses at the end of the Christmas section. “This year we including the final 2 movements of Messiah to create a little more energy and add an extra sparkle. “Worthy is the Lamb” and “Amen” choruses give the performers something new and fresh to challenge them a bit. We then conclude the concert with the familiar “Hallelujah” chorus.”
While community participation is central to the event, the performance will feature an illustrious set of professional soloists, including Hanna Golodinskii, soprano, Linnea Conley, mezzo soprano, Daniel Young, tenor, and Thomas Woodman, bass.
The performance is open to the public and a freewill offering will be received, with suggested $20 donation. No tickets required.
For more information, call the Church at (203) 637-1791 or visit their website: www.fccog.org
