Musical dream: Local Messiah choir to perform in Altenburg and Cape Girardeau

Several years ago while in Florida, Hope Botwinski heard a local Messiah choir and knew that one day she wanted to bring that same sound to Southeast Missouri.

"Call it a dream," Botwinski said.

This dream was revived when she learned about the growing shortage of musicians in the Lutheran Church.

A member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, Botwinski had an idea to help encourage the interest of music among young people in the church.

"So the dream and the idea merged and this is what we got," Botwinski said.

What she got was a choir consisting of singers from the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod's churches in Cape Girardeau, Perry, Scott and Ste. Genevieve counties and the community to sing choruses from George Frideric Handel's "Messiah" oratorio.

Formerly called the Lutheran Messiah Choir, the group's name was changed this year to the Messiah Choir. The change was made to more accurately reflect the choir's cross-denominational membership.

More than 25 area choir directors, choir members and students make up the choir, and the group is set to perform its third annual "Messiah" concert at 3 p.m. today at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg and at 3 p.m. Jan. 22 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau.

A freewill offering will be taken at each performance. The money collected will go to a general fund to be used to promote musicianship among youths, including scholarships for area LCMS high school students to attend the Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival.

The music camp focuses on strengthening and extending the Lutheran Church's history of excellence in music and the arts.

The Trinity and community choir members practice Handel's Messiah Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 under the direction of Dr. Shelton at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

About 150 students ages 14 to 18 years old gather from across the United States for four weeks during the summer. Students participate in a rigorous musical study and performance on the campus of a Lutheran institution of higher learning. Band, orchestra, choir, piano and organ students are taught by faculty artists from the best college music departments and professional ensembles.

"The cost to attend the camp can be out of range for some families," Botwinski said. "So the scholarship really helps that youth."

In addition to attending the camp, the scholarship recipient is required to participate in an apprenticeship at their church under the guidance of a music worker.

With the purpose of providing practical exposure to church musicianship, the recipient gets the hands-on opportunity to learn more about the roll of music in church through the filing of music, music selection, recording and more.

Last year's scholarship recipient, Reed Thomas, is also a member of this year's Messiah choir. In addition to singing with the choir on Sunday, Thomas will briefly speak about her experience at the camp and perform on the piano.

Nominated for the scholarship by her piano teacher, Janet Presson, Thomas said the experience she gained at the camp has led to numerous music opportunities.

"I've been able to play in church a lot more with my piano, and I've also been introduced to the flute -- which I really enjoy -- and I get to play that during school hours. And also I'm doing a duet at church," Thomas said. "I've been able to play songs for the choir at my school and various concerts and participate in the Messiah concert at church and play and sing there."

Thomas called the camp, which took place at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, an amazing experience and encourages others to attend.

"I can't think of a better way to spend your summer, honestly. It was amazing," Thomas said. "When I first showed up, I almost wanted to go back home. But once I was there for two hours, I didn't want to go home at all."

Thomas, who is a freshman at Saxony Lutheran High School involved in choir and band, is already enrolled for this year's summer camp. She has been completing her apprenticeship with music coordinator Charlie Vaughn and choir director Dottie Meyr at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau.

Dr. John Shelton is this year's choir director. The previous director, Vicki Boren, a retired music teacher, stepped down as director this year after helping build the choir during the previous two years.

"I had to think about it for a little bit," Shelton said, "and then I agreed to it."

After directing his church's choir for 25 years and teaching music at Southeast Missouri State University for 36 years, Shelton is more than familiar with the performance piece.

"Many of our choir members have sung the piece before and truly enjoy singing it," he said.

A total of five choruses will be sung in addition to tenor, bass, soprano and alto solos.

The choir has been rehearsing twice a month since September, with many members having up to three types of choir rehearsals each week depending on their additional involvements. For others this is their only opportunity to be part of choir if their church doesn't have one or if they are unable to commit to a long-term rehearsing schedule.

Each concert will begin with a preconcert at 2:45 p.m. that showcases the host church's musicians. Altenburg's Trinity Choral Society will perform before today's concert. Cape Girardeau's Trinity Lutheran Church handbell choir will perform before the Jan. 22 concert.

The choir's performance will be followed by an invitation to all those who have sung the oratorio to join the choir for the "Hallelujah" chorus. Children are also invited to join and are given small, wooden dowels with which they may use as director's batons to help direct the choir.

Since its debut in 1742, the most famous and recognizable piece from Handel's "Messiah" is the "Hallelujah" chorus, ending the second act.

"People just love to sing it," Botwinski said. "It truly is a special piece of music."

Those who would like to join next year's choir are welcome to do so.

"We don't have any requirements for joining the choir," Botwinski said, "Just don't quit your own church choir and have the desire to sing praises to the Lord."

For more information on the choir, contact Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau at 335-8224.