The “Ultimate” Messiah Sing-Along

The Messiah Sing-Along has become a very popular event in many American communities, and especially during the Christmas Season there will be hundreds of these celebrations across our nation. What makes them so popular? I have several thoughts as to why that might be. One is that Handel’s Messiah is a work that most choral singers have performed. Another is that during the Holiday Season a Sing-Along provides a wonderful shared experience, whether one comes to participate as an individual or as part of a group. And finally, I suggest that people enjoy participating in Messiah Sing-Alongs just because they are fun!

As all of us in The Michael O’Neal Singers prepare to present our 7th Annual Messiah Sing-Along, we will be repeating something we tried last year for the first time.  We will have the solos, as well as the choruses, sung by the audience!  I must admit I approached this last year with a bit of trepidation, having never heard of this being done before, and wondering if there might be a good reason for that!   However, I was enormously pleased with the results.   Each vocal section did a great job with its particular solos, and many singers told me it marked the first time they had ever been able to sing these pieces in public.   So, we’re about to repeat the experience again at Roswell UMC on Sunday, December 16,  at 3 PM, and I expect it to be even more successful than last year.   If you’re in the Atlanta area I invite you to join us.  More information is available at our website, www.mosingers.com, or you can call the MOS Office at 770.594.7974.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts about this approach to our Messiah Sing-Along or any other Messiah performance stories you may wish to share.

A Messiah Sing-Along (with a twist)

The Messiah Sing-Along has become a very popular event in many American communities, and especially during the Christmas Season there will be hundreds of these celebrations across our nation. What makes them so popular? I have several thoughts as to why that might be. One is that Handel’s Messiah is a work that most choral singers have performed. Another is that during the Holiday Season a Sing-Along provides a wonderful shared experience, whether one comes to participate as an individual or as part of a group. And finally, I suggest that people enjoy participating in Messiah Sing-Alongs just because they are fun!

As The Michael O’Neal Singers prepares to present its 6th Annual Messiah Sing-Along, there will be something new in how we do it! For the first time we will have the solos, as well as the choruses, sung by the audience! Don’t ask me where I got the idea, for I’m not sure! I just remember waking up one morning thinking about our Sing-Along and considering the possibility of having the solos sung by the vocal sections rather than by professional soloists. The more I thought about it the more convinced I became that it was a wonderful idea! Naturally, the “proof of the pudding” will be this coming Sunday at 3 PM when this interesting experiment takes place. Just imagine 200 tenors singing “Ev’ry valley shall be exalted” or 300 or more sopranos warbling “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.” The excitement is building as we prepare for the day! This is either going to be remembered as one of my best ideas ever, or not! What do you think?

Big Choir Singing!

Eight hundred voices joined together yesterday afternoon for the 5th Annual Messiah Sing-Along in Roswell, GA (north metro Atlanta).  Sponsored by The Michael O’Neal Singers, it has become a community favorite and increases in attendance each year.  What a joy it is to have 800 people gathered together in one place singing with full robost voices the marvelous choruses of Handel’s masterpiece.  Since our performance space (Roswell UMC) seats 2000,  we should be alright for a few more years!

With soloists drawn from The Michael O’Neal Chamber Singers and instrumental accompaniment provided by the Riverside Chamber Players and organist Tom Alderman, the entire performance was a pleasure from the opening notes of the Overture to the final chords of “Hallelujah.”  There is such a sense of satisfaction that comes from so many people gathered in one place to perform (not just hear) the most beloved oratorio ever written.

For many of us, the familiar solos and choruses of of Handel’s “Christmas” Messiah (Part I and the “Hallelujah” from Part II) have become an integral part of our holiday experience.  I know that’s true for me, and I’m thankful to all those 800 people who helped make it happen this holiday season.