Messiah Choir performs its annual concert today

Editor's note: This story was modified to include a change in performers, and is different from the piece that appeared in print.

Featuring a couple of new soloists, the Cape Girardeau Messiah Choir will present its annual concerts today at New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson and Jan. 19 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau.

Following preconcert music at 2:45 p.m., the 32-member group's performances of Handel's "Messiah" will begin at 3 p.m. each day and run about 75 minutes, said choir spokeswoman Hope Botwinski.

New McKendree is at 225 S. High St. in Jackson and Trinity Lutheran at 100 N. Frederick St. in Cape Girardeau.

"This music is hundreds of years old, and people still know it," Botwinski said. "That's what's amazing. We're praying for good weather, good health and good voices."

The Messiah Choir is accompanied by pianist Tyson Wunderlich, adjunct music instructor at Southeast Missouri State University and Mineral Area College.

The program will be preceded at 2:45 p.m. on the successive Sundays by the quartet Faith in Harmony, which includes Vicki Boren, Trudy Lee, Eric Scott and Charlie Vaughn, and the Trinity Ringers. The Trinity Brass will accompany the group on hymns next week. Refreshments will be served after each concert.

Freewill offerings will be taken to raise money for a scholarship to the Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Directed by Dr. John Shelton, the group began rehearsals in October but was forced to cancel its Jan. 6 practice because of snow and subzero temperatures.

"Except for the Hallelujah Chorus, we'll be singing selections from the Christmas portions of the 'Messiah,'" said Botwinski. "We're trying to promote musicianship, particularly among youth, and, of course, give glory to God."

She said anyone who wants to join the choir or donate to the scholarship fund may call Trinity Lutheran Church at 335-8224.

Shelton said he has been pleased with his soloists, tenor Eric Scott, mezzo soprano Trudy Lee, his daughter Elizabeth, a soprano, and the newcomers, lyric soprano Emily Long and bass Timothy Schmidt.

"The choir really enjoys singing the 'Messiah' and raising money to send a young person to summer music camp," said Shelton, Southeast music professor emeritus.

"The different soloists have different strengths, and we are happy to have them all. Tyson is an excellent accompanist."

In an interview with Crossway Books vice president Justin Taylor of Wheaton, Ill., author Calvin Stapert said George Frideric Handel had succeeded as a composer of operas well before writing his sixth oratorio, "Messiah," in 1741.

Quoted Dec. 20, 2010, on the website of Dr. Gene Edward Veith Jr., director of the Cranach Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind., Stapert said one of Handel's motivations for writing "Messiah" was to counter the influence of Deism, a popular theology of the day that rejected the deity of Jesus Christ.

Stapert told Taylor that Handel, born in 1685 in Halle, Saxony, Germany, received his early musical education from a Lutheran Church organist in his hometown.