The concert choir and community orchestra, conducted by Brad Vogel, associate professor of choral music, will present Handel?s ?Messiah? at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2.
First performed in Dublin, Ireland, on April 13, 1742, ?Messiah? is Handel?s most famous composition and is among the most popular works in Western choral literature.
Although the work was conceived and first performed for Easter, it has become traditional to perform the oratorio during Advent, the preparatory period of the Christmas season.
The performance will feature soloists Kayla Vix, Holly Swartzendruber and Elise Hiebert (sopranos), Ashley Siler (alto), Matthew Schloneger (tenor), and Jonah Kliewer (bass).
The annual Christmas Festival, featuring the symphonic band, brass ensemble and concert choir, will be performed at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 9.
The three ensembles will perform traditional Christmas literature, and will feature trumpet soloists Andrew Toews and Eric Funk, as well as soprano singer Swartzendruber, assistant professor of voice.
The concert will conclude with Mack Wilberg?s setting of the English carol, ?I Saw Three Ships,? which will feature not only the concert choir but also the Tabor College Handbell Choir and Sheila Schmitt and Stephen Vincent on piano.
On Monday, Dec. 10, the Tabor College Community Chorale and Tabor College Handbell Choir will perform their Christmas concert at 7 p.m.
The inaugural performance of the 36-voice chorale will feature well-known Christmas carols accompanied by piano, organ, harp, oboe and flute.
The handbell Choir will lend its unique sound to the traditional Christmas repertoire.
Each performance is free and open to the public. An offering will be taken following the performance of ?Messiah? to help the cost of the production.
For additional information, call music department at 947-3121.
