Owensboro Choral Society’s annual performance of Handel’s “Messiah,” a 200-year-old oratorio, will take place at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Third Baptist Church under the direction of Dr. Connie Ford.
Ford has been directing the annual performance since 2011, and many singers and musicians in the free concert have been with it for many years.
Markley Freer has been singing in the performance for about 30 years. Her late husband, Ralph O. Freer, was active in the choral society and got her singing in it.
“This is the only benefit concert done each year. It is always held on the first Sunday in December and close to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, as that was the first Sunday the ‘Messiah’ was presented to the Owensboro community,” Freer said. “The performance kicks off my Christmas season and is wonderful music.”
Freer also said the audience seems to notice the hard work the chorus and musicians put into the performance.
This year, a few of Freer’s family members are singing in the choir, including her daughter Melinda Francis, her son Mark, and her brother-in-law Bill.
Bill Jansing has participated in the oratorio since the late 1970s, but took part intermittently as a chorus member.
“As time went on I became more of a regular chorus member, and over the last 20 years or so, ‘Messiah’ has been an annual high point and pleasure in my amateur singing experience,” Jansing said.
Jansing said that he most enjoys singing to an appreciative and enthusiastic audience and believes that everyone should see it at least once.
“To be able to join this excellent choral group and instrumentalists in performance of this iconic oratorio is a distinct privilege,” he said. “It is very special in my singing efforts which include the Owensboro Symphony Chorus and my church choir.”
Freer echoed those sentiments while also mentioning the philanthropy of the free concert.
“It is about using your talent to give back to our community by helping raise money for the Goodfellows,” Freer said.
Soloists for this year’s performance are soprano Leslie Wigginton Ferguson, alto Emily Malone, tenor Dakota DeGraw, and bass Tevin Vincent. Joyce Goodwin is the organist and Sharon Hudson is the harpsichordist.
Donations taken during the performance will go to Goodfellows Club of Owensboro. A gift may also be given to the Owensboro Choral Society, Inc. Both are tax deductible.
