“Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!”

Singers and instrumentalists will soon come together in Columbus, bringing George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah,” and this iconic, swelling chorus to life once again. Columbus Sings Messiah is planning to hold its 23rd annual presentation at 7 p.m. Dec. 9, filling Annunciation Catholic Church with selections from the more than 280-year-old masterpiece.

Columbus Sings Messiah founder James Allen said he expects 125 singers to come together again this year to participate in this beloved tradition. Many, he said, return year after year.

“(My favorite part) is just the fact that we’re able to do it, and there are enough people who like it and will give of themselves to do it and make it happen,” Allen told The Dispatch on Tuesday.

Columbus Sings Messiah is a group of singers from all over the region that has gathered annually to perform Handel’s masterpiece since 2001, Allen said, only ever missing two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group will rehearse once together at 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at Annunciation Catholic Church, Allen said, before performing selections from the work the following evening for an expected crowd of about 600 listeners. While “Messiah” was originally composed to be about three hours long, the Columbus Sings Messiah presentation is typically about an hour long.

Nancy Carpenter, CEO of the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation, said she has been volunteering with the group since it began, assisting with marketing, fundraising and other needs all along the way. She called the “Messiah” a “wonderful tradition” for the city and area music lovers.

“We have visitors that come from Alabama, from north Mississippi, from central Mississippi and even some from western… Alabama and Mississippi,” Carpenter said. “It’s always a wonderful crowd and wonderful participation, and we could not do it without everybody’s help.”

Carpenter said the message of ‘Messiah’ brings together singers from a variety of church backgrounds, drawing listeners and singers back year after year.

“It’s wonderful to see … all denominations working together to support the ‘Messiah,’ and to spread the good news of Christ’s birth,” Carpenter said.

Phillip Stockton, associate director of choral studies at Mississippi State University, said he is “blessed” to be conducting the choir for his fourth year. But Stockton said the musical piece has been a part of his Christmas traditions for almost his whole life.

“There have been very few Christmases in my life where I have not sung in it, conducted it, or been to a concert of it. It’s one of those cornerstone pieces of music for me, as a musician,” Stockton said. Columbus Sings Messiah takes listeners through some of the highlights of the masterpiece, including the iconic “Hallelujah” chorus, but also some other favorites, like “For Unto Us a Child is Born,” Stockton said.

Stockton said he believes the singers and crowds return to hear the Messiah each year, both because of its beauty and its association with the Christmas season.

“I think a lot of people think of ‘Messiah’ as much a part of the holidays as they do decorating the Christmas tree, or going to look at Christmas lights, or buying gifts for people,” Stockton said. “It’s like they hear the Christmas portion of Messiah and it’s the kickoff of the holiday season, or the Christmas season.”

While the event is ticketed to help listeners ensure they get a seat, all Columbus Sings Messiah tickets are free, Allen said. Tickets are available at Annunciation Catholic Church, First Methodist Church, the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitor Bureau and the Tennessee Williams Home and Welcome Center.