Choral Union Presents 89th Messiah Performance December 8

Published: April 13, 2021

The Greenville Choral Union and Orchestra will celebrate its 89thperformance of George Frideric Handels oratorio Messiah on Sunday, December 8 at 4 p.m. in the Whitlock Music Center.

In addition to enjoying this perennial favorite, audience members will be invited to sing traditional Christmas carols along with the choral union and orchestra. The choral union has also commissioned a new work titled Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder by composer Andrew Bruhn for the concert finale.

This years program features acclaimed regional vocal soloists Caitlin Hadeler, Christina Kruger, Thomas Taylor, and Ian Murrell. Twelve professional instrumentalists from the St. Louis area will also join the Greenville Chamber Orchestra.

The 75-voice choral union and 30-piece orchestra include members from several south central Illinois communities in addition to students, staff, and faculty members from Greenville University. Jiwon Park, staff accompanist at Greenville University, serves as accompanist for the choral union. Nicholas Watterson, Greenville native and current Greenville University student, will play the organ for the performance. Dr. Jeff Wilson, director of choral activities at Greenville University and music director of the Greenville Choral Union, will conduct the concert.

Seating for the concert begins at 3:30 p.m. An offering will be taken to help defray the costs of the concert. Immediately following the concert, the Tidball Alumni House will host a reception.

For those unable to attend the performance, the concert will be broadcast live on WGRN, 89.5 FM and streamed live on WGRN online.

For more information about the Greenville Choral Union and Greenville Chamber Orchestra, contact the Greenville University Department of Music at (618) 664-6560.