Choir and Orchestra Concert—A Gift to the Community
The Principia College choir and orchestra rang in the Christmas season by performing Handel’s Messiah in early December. Other works performed that evening were Mozart’s Flute Concerto No. 2 in D Major, with junior Ashley Alarcon as soloist, and Leroy Anderson’s Bugler’s Holiday, featuring trumpet players Dr. Joe Van Riper, a Music Department professor, senior RJ Maunton, and sophomore Austin Romo. For the Messiah, alumni as well as current and former members of the faculty and staff joined the choir and orchestra. “It’s always a joy to include these community members,” said Dr. Marie Jureit-Beamish, Charles Stewart Harding Mott Distinguished Professor of music and the director of the orchestra.
“We perform Handel’s Messiah every three years in order to allow students to have at least one opportunity to learn and perform this important musical work,” explained Jureit-Beamish. “It is the most-performed choral masterpiece in the Western world since its debut in 1742.”
“The Messiah is one of the Baroque period’s greatest productions, and playing one small part in its performance here at Prin was truly an honor,” Maunton commented.
Many other colleges and universities perform the Messiah during the Christmas season as well, of course. Unique to Principia, however, is the metaphysical preparation described by these student musicians. “We feel we are in the healing business rather than in the music business, and our metaphysical preparation is key to the experience,” said principal flutist Alarcon. “The entire choir and orchestra gather prior to each rehearsal and performance to share inspiration,” added Marla Hansen, soprano soloist and violinist. “Joe Van Riper, choir director, asked us to fully consider the spiritual message of Handel’s Messiah.”
Audience members not only appreciated that spiritual message but helped deliver it during the “Hallelujah Chorus.” “Singing the chorus with friends in the community was pure joy,” said one concertgoer.
The high quality and professionalism of the performance was all the more remarkable given the limited rehearsal time. “We actually had only three rehearsals with both the orchestra and choir,” said Corey Thornton, principal clarinetist. “Each group rehearsed independently throughout the semester, and soloists prepared their parts. It was terrific to see it all come together. You could feel the sense of unity and purpose during the final rehearsals, with no sense of ego.”
Note: Click here to read a Christian Science Monitor article by Dr. Jureit-Beamish about music’s transformative and healing potential.