Singers welcome for ?Messiah?

MOUNT PLEASANT ? Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra will present its eighth annual ?Messiah - Sing!,? an audience sing-along concert experience, at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Iowa Wesleyan College Chapel Auditorium in Mount Pleasant. Under the direction of guest conductor Bradley Miller, the orchestra, student and professional soloists and the audience/chorus will perform G. F. Handel?s immortal Christmas classic ?Messiah.? The concert will consist of the entire Christmas portion as well as selected parts from the remainder of the work, including the Hallelujah Chorus.

SEISO is proud to present both student and professional soloists for the special concert. The professionals are: Stephen Jepson of Iowa City, bass; and Timothy Ahern, dean of students for Southeastern Community College-Keokuk campus, tenor soloist.

Student and community soloists include: Aaron Warner (tenor), Kathryn Ahern (soprano), Priscilla Marlar (soprano), Alice Cook (soprano) and (soprano), Randye Jones (alto), Brenda Randall (alto) , Adam Webb (tenor) and Zach Reiter (bass). Reiter is the vocal music instructor at Fairfield High School.

The guest conductor, Miller, is in his first year as director of choral activities at Iowa Wesleyan College and also serves as director of the Mount Pleasant Chorale.

Admission to the concert is $10 for adults and $5 for students, with tickets available at the door.

People who wish to sing will be seated in their respective vocal sections. However, groups of friends and families, who wish to sit and sing together, may do so.

All participants are asked to bring their own vocal scores. The orchestra will perform the G. Schirmer edition, and scores are available from area music stores. SEISO also will have scores available for $8 at the door.

The special event has become a holiday tradition providing a memorable experience for music lovers to perform Handel?s masterpiece with the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra.

As always, those who wish to attend the concert to listen to the music are welcome.

For further information, log on to the SEISO website at www.seiso.us and go to the Concerts/Events page. ?Messiah? Sing! has a PDF attachment with frequently asked quetions.

Information about the concert also is available from the SEISO office at 601 N. Main St. in Mount Pleasant, 319-385-6352 and email seiso@iwc.edu.