Kellogg Community College’s Sacred Music Certificate Program invites the community to raise their voices in song at two sing-along events this holiday season.
“Community Messiah and Carol Sing-along” events will be held on the following dates:
- 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Davidson Visual and Performing Arts Center Auditorium on campus at 450 North Ave. in Battle Creek
- 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, hosted by KCC’s Branch County Community Chorus at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 27 E. Chicago St. in Coldwater
Both events are free and open to the public, though donations will be accepted to support student scholarships and other music initiatives at the College.
During the events, Dr. Gerald Case-Blanchard, director of vocal music and music area coordinator at KCC, will lead the chorus and audience members in popular holiday carols and the familiar choruses from Part I of Handel’s classic masterpiece “Messiah,” including the popular “Hallelujah Chorus.”
Participants will also sing well-known favorites including “And the Glory of the Lord,” “And He Shall Purify” and “For Unto Us a Child Is Born,” among others.
Solos will be sung by featured KCC faculty vocalists, including sopranos Carmen Bell and Betty Picard and tenor Mark Wells. Nancy D. Brown will accompany the participants on the College’s grand Young Chang piano and Paula Harris will accompany on the College’s Turner-Bainbridge harpsichord, originally built by William Sims Bainbridge of Charlottesville, Virginia, in the 1970s.
Case-Blanchard said KCC chorus members will be mixed in with the audience to provide “a shared musical experience.”
“This is not a performance, but rather an opportunity for the whole community to come together and sing some of their favorite holiday carols and choruses from this grand musical masterwork,” Case-Blanchard said. “For many, there’s no better way to start off the Christmas season. Let’s all come together as a community and raise our voices in song!”
As per the tradition of “Messiah” sing-alongs, audience members are encouraged to bring their own favorite scores, though there will be a limited supply available at the door for loan on a first come, first served basis.
KCC’s unique Sacred Music Certificate Program is a 32-credit program designed to give students the skills and knowledge needed to obtain a position as a church choir director, music worship leader or youth music leader. For more information about the program or the upcoming “Messiah” events, contact Case-Blanchard at case-blanchardg@kellogg.edu or visit kellogg.edu/music.
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