The Columbus Sings Messiah choir, composed of 120 volunteer singers, gathers in Annunciation Catholic church, humming and singing to warm up their vocal chords. Orchestra members tune and warm up their instruments in turn.
The group will have one chance to rehearse George Handel’s “Messiah,” an oratorio composed in 1741 recounting the story of the life of Christ. Less than 24 hours later, the choir will present the story to an audience of hundreds.
While this time crunch may be intimidating for some performers, Columbus Sings Messiah founder James Allen said this quick turnaround is just a normal part of the choir’s annual presentation, which will be returning to the city for the 21st time at 7 p.m. Tuesday night.
“Most people who sing with us have sung in the past either with us or another group,” Allen said. “We don’t have a learning situation to take place. We have one rehearsal on Monday night before we sing on Tuesday night.”
Allen has been behind the organ at every Columbus Sings Messiah presentation since starting the group back in 2001. He said he was inspired to start the group after First Baptist Church, the church he was attending at the time, switched its annual program from Handel’s “Messiah” to a Bethlehem Village.
But after the change, Allen didn’t want Columbus to miss out on the “Messiah.”
“I went home and I began to think and I began to talk to my wife and my daughter, and we decided that we could do it,” Allen said. “We started in 2001 what is called Columbus Sings Messiah.”
Since the very beginning, Allen said, the choir has always consisted of about 120 singers, with some variation from year to year in the instrumentation. The group has only ever not gathered during a two-year break for the COVID-19 pandemic, for their own safety and the safety of the audience.
The audience, he said, typically fills the 600 chairs in Annunciation Catholic Church, which warrants another 200 being added to accommodate the high turnout.
“The sanctuary is every year, always packed full,” Allen said.
Phillip Stockton, Mississippi State University associate director of choral studies, will once again be conducting the “Messiah” on Tuesday. He said conducting the Messiah is a tradition for Columbus, as it has become “timeless” since its original Dublin debut.
“It’s a tradition around the world and certainly here in Columbus,” Stockton said. “This will be the 21st year here. For a lot of the singers and the audience who have been attending for years, it creates a sense of nostalgia. It’s become part of their Christmas tradition.”
Stockton said working with only one rehearsal is a challenge, but one that he and the singers are up to.
“It is a challenge, obviously, but what helps with that is many of the singers have been doing this for years and they have it down pretty well,” Stockton said. “Another thing is that while we want it to be as good as it can be, these are community singers. We want them to enjoy it and come back and sing it for years. That’s the goal. That’s what’s important.”
Stockton said the choir primarily focuses on the Christmas portion of the “Messiah,” but also includes some pieces from other parts focused on Easter and the Ascension of Christ, telling the “whole story.”
Altogether, Allen said, the presentation lasts about an hour, covering many of the most notable choruses and overtures from the “Messiah.”
Stockton said this year, there will be only one presentation of Handel’s “Messiah,” rather than two. The presentation was also moved up a week from its typical timeline, to allow Mississippi University for Women and Mississippi State University students to participate as well.
The performance will take place at Annunciation Catholic Church, 808 College St. on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Free tickets for the “Messiah” are available at Annunciation Catholic Church, the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau and at First Methodist Church.
How to Go
■ WHAT: Columbus Sings Messiah
■ WHEN: Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.
■ WHERE: Annunciation Catholic Church, 808 College St.
■ HOW: Free tickets available at Annunciation, First Methodist Church and Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau. Donations can be made as well, making checks out to Golden Triangle Theatre and mailing to the group at PO Box 471, Columbus, MS 39703 with “Messiah” in the memo line.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 38 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 38 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
Join the Discussion