Published: December 14, 2006 02:25 pm         

Symphony plans ‘Messiah’ sing-along

The Elkhart County Symphony will present the third annual Handel’s “Messiah” sing-along on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Sauder Concert Hall, Goshen College Music Center.

Michiana tenor Matthew Daniel will join the symphony in holiday favorites “Gesu Bambino” and Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” and the orchestra will feature celebrated seasonal selections including Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers,” Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” and “March of the Toys” from Babes in Toyland.

In the second half, Daniel will be joined by alto Lisa Guedea Carreño, soprano Ellen Kraybill and bass Darren Kemble for several selections of the “Messiah” — with the audience as the chorus.

Audience members should take a book or borrow one of the symphony’s and join in a holiday highlight, performed in one of the best acoustical concert halls in the Midwest.

To add to the holiday celebration, there will be two short vignettes. Dina Harris will speak on the meaning of Hanukkah just prior to the orchestra playing Holcombe’s “Festive Sounds of Hanukkah,” and two actors will bring to life the renowned editorial, “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

Sponsored by Goshen Health System and Bayer Healthcare, the guest conductor will be Brian Groner, music director of the Fox Valley Symphony, Appleton, Wis.

An interesting note is that at some time in their career, all of the soloists sang in Camerata Singers and three sang in St. Joseph Valley Camerata.

Currently, Daniel performs with symphonies throughout the Midwest, is a voice instructor in the community and teaches at Culver Academy. His last appearance with the Elkhart County Symphony was in May 2006, when he performed with Chris Witman and Robert Dure as “Michiana’s Three Tenors.”



Ticket information

Tickets are $15 adults, $12 for seniors and $5 for students, and can be purchased at Blessing Music in Elkhart, SuperSounds at TG Music in Goshen, at all Elkhart County Martin’s Super Markets, by phone or at the door. For more information, call (574) 293-1087.