60th Annual Messiah Upcoming At First Congregational Church Of Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — The First Congregational Church of Greenwich will host its 60th annual community performance of Handel’s Messiah on Dec. 13, continuing a long-running local holiday tradition for singers and music lovers.

The concert, featuring the Christmas portion of the oratorio, is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the church’s Meetinghouse at 108 Sound Beach Ave. in Old Greenwich. The event will also be livestreamed on the church’s YouTube channel.

Rehearsals for the First Church Festival Chorus were scheduled for Monday evening at 7:30 p.m., with no audition required. A dress rehearsal with the orchestra is set for 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 10.

"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."

To mark the 60th anniversary, Symons said the program will include two additional choruses.

"This year we including the final two 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."

Professional soloists Hanna Golodinskii, soprano; Linnea Conley, mezzo soprano; Daniel Young, tenor; and Thomas Woodman, bass, will be featured.

Singers interested in joining may attend the Dec. 8 rehearsal or contact Symons at craigs@fccog.org.

The performance is open to the public. A freewill offering will be received, with a suggested donation of $20. No tickets are required.