This really is the most wonderful time of the year! Olivet Nazarene University’s School of Music is excited to present annual performances of Handel’s Messiah and the Sounds of the Season concert during the 2019 winter season.
The 84th annual production of the Messiah will be presented on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019 in the Betty and Kenneth Hawkins Centennial Chapel at 7:00 p.m. and the Sounds of the Season will be performed on Friday, Dec. 6, at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7, at 2:00 p.m.
Handel’s Messiah features scriptural text that follows the life of Christ. The oratorio starts with a section on prophecy and Jesus’ birth, followed by an evocation of His suffering and concluding with His triumph of the Resurrection and redemption for mankind.
University Orchestra conductor, Dr. Neal Woodruff says, “Handel’s Messiah is a tradition nearly as old as Olivet. While Messiah is a time-honored tradition at Olivet, it also receives broad recognition in the wider culture, and is universally recognized as one of the great ‘masterworks’ among choral/orchestral literature.”
“There are many holiday traditions that people remember and celebrate,” Dr. Woodruff continues. “These traditions often have a story or stories that go along with the tradition itself, and are really what make the traditions meaningful. Handel’s Messiah is one such tradition for the University. It’s a story that not only helps us to remember and celebrate, but also points us in the way we should go, and points us to the One who walks with us- the author of the story.”
The performance will feature Olivet’s full symphonic orchestra and combined choirs from the School of Music. Soloists will include students Emily Adams, Samantha Pepper, Emma Morris, Ryan Woodruff and Isaac Lee.
The Sounds of the Season concert will feature performances of classic holiday music by representatives of every music ensemble on Olivet’s campus. The first half of the concert will be comprised of performances from each of the instrumental and choral ensembles. The second half of the production will be a combined performance of the more than 300 student musicians that are involved in the School of Music.
Both events are free and free and open to the community, but tickets must be reserved at olivet.edu/tickets.
To learn more about Olivet’s School of Music, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@olivet.edu or 800-648-1463.
Published 11/15/2019
HRI & LB
