Defiance Community to hold 40th annual performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah’

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The 40th annual community performance of Handel’s “Messiah” on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. in St. John United Church of Christ, will once again provide an inspirational opportunity for area residents to begin their holiday season.

While the tradition is almost 90 years in age, 38 consecutive performances were led with the late Dr. Richard Stroede holding the baton. He revived the tradition in 1974, initially performing the Christmas section and singing from the balcony of the church with organist Carolyn Small.  Dr. Stroede’s final performance was in 2009, just months before his untimely death. From the original 30 singers, the group quickly grew and was moved to the front of the sanctuary and now includes more 80 singers. This is the second year that the performance will be conducted by Andrew Schultz, director of music programs at Defiance College.

“Messiah” is one of the most popular pieces in all of the world’s choral literature. The work was composed in the summer of 1741 and first performed in Dublin on April 13, 1742. It was first intended to be performed in a secular theater during Lent, though it is now usually performed during Advent. And the work is frequently done in churches, as is the case in the Defiance performance. In many cases only the Christmas section is performed, with the addition of “Hallelujah,” though full performances are frequently found. In the Defiance performance, the entire Christmas section is included prior to intermission, with the selections from the later section following.

Conducted by Andrew Schultz, director of music programs at Defiance College, the chorus includes DC student sopranos Amanda Bauer, Bryan and Lindsay Kasmer, Medina; altos Elizabeth Daniel, Ney, Kaitlyn Griffith, Galion, Megan Puehler, Defiance, and Alison Rifenburgh, Bronson, Mich.; and tenor Mark LeMaster, Defiance.

Chorus members also include sopranos Peg Bjorlin, Jennifer Brown, Barbara Buchanan, Janice Cain, Anne Clark, Jennifer Connor, Jan Craig, Bonnie Eddy, Julie Fritz-Bergman, Janice Johansen, Diana Harbourt, Christina Hurst, Juli Kunesh, Lynda LeMaster, Kat Lillie, Nickola Maccubbin, Abby Morris, Shellee Murcko, Patti Parks, Samantha Pixler, Marian R. Plant, Mary Shaner, Margaret Schrock, Gretchen Weger and Linda L Young.

Altos includeDiana Bauer, Jan Bechtel, Annette Bergman, Mary Born, Marie Bungard, Ann Culver, Beatriz Couto, Jan Cromly, Kathy Garland, Anne Gordon, Deb Guilford, Viola Manz, Sally Myers, Arlina Ponce, Laura Rath Connor, Donna Rhoads, Mona Sauder, Jenee Seibert, Robyn Small, Kate Smolik, Kristin Sorensen, Barb Welty and Kristin Wendell.

Tenors include Jerry Bergman, Lynn Bergman, David B Brown, Don Knueve, Mark LeMaster, Alton Myers, Tim Rettig, Jim Sauder, Randy Schroeder and John Trautman.

Basses include Kenneth Armbruster, Adam Bjorlin, Ned Clark, Dave Connor, Floyd Culver, Ron Jinks, Tim Kohart, Jerry Lugbill, John Mitchell, Dan Nutter, Dave Perkins, Fred Schultz, Daniel Shoop, Eric Spiller and William Warren

Orchestra members include Judy Dally and Julee Bayliss, Flute; Glenn Walker and Frank D’Ambrosia, Clarinet; Jim Gallahue and Barbara Sedlock, Bassoon; Tom Sieberg, Virgil Lupu and Dana Mader, Violin I; Alice Petersen, Randy Workman and Diane Kent, Violin II; Philip Stoll and Susan Schreiber, Viola; Jim Anderson and Elizabeth Hamaker, Cello; Aaron Keaster, Bass; Lori Bitz, Trumpet; and Carolyn Small, Harpsichord

The event is free and open to the public. A free-will offering will be taken at the end of the performance. Those wishing to make additional contributions to this performance may mail a check payable to Defiance College, to Andrew Schultz, director of music programs, Defiance College, 701 N. Clinton St., Defiance, OH 43512

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

December 2, 2011