Calling All Singers!

Anyone who enjoys singing Handel's "Messiah" is encouraged to begin bi-monthly rehearsals September 26th with The Messiah Choir, a regional choir that will perform selections from the work in January. Rehearsals are held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 100 North Frederick Street in Cape Girardeau, from 7-8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month from September 26th through December 12th. The choir will break for Christmas and resume in January prior to a 3 p.m. performance on January 15th at a church still being determined. A second performance on January 22 will be given at Trinity Lutheran Church, also at 3 p.m.

Now in its third year, the choir will be directed by Dr. John Shelton, music professor emeritus of Southeast Missouri State University, and retired Minister of Music at Centenary Methodist Church for 25 years. Vicki Boren, retired music teacher at Webster Groves High School, helped build the choir, which was formed specifically to promote church musicianship among youth. Originally, the choir was named the Lutheran Messiah Choir. Now that many denominations are represented in the diverse membership, the name was changed this year.

An offering is collected at the two performances that goes toward scholarships for area high school students to attend the Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival. During the four-week academy, 150 band, orchestra, choir, piano, and organ students from across the U.S. and abroad are taught by faculty artists from esteemed higher education institutions and professional ensembles. More information can be found at www.lutheransummermusic.org.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans supplemented previous offerings to sponsor other activities promoting musicianship among youth, such as sending students to a national worship conference and an organist workshop. Another activity is a one-day Music Discovery Camp started two years ago to allow youth to explore music through traditional and unusual methods, such as composition, playing different instruments, and discovering music in nature. Contact Trinity Lutheran Church (573) 335-8224 for more information about the choir or camps.