A community sing-along of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” will raise funds for the A Cappella Choir at Stephen F. Austin State University to travel to Italy in 2020.
The community event, with conductors, soloists and pianists, and featuring the audience and SFA A Cappella Choir as the chorus, is at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
The fundraiser is designed to help defray the costs of the choir’s 2020 Italy tour, according to Dr. Michael Murphy, director of choral activities in the SFA School of Music. For information on how to donate to the Italy trip, email Murphy at murphymt2@sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-1181.
“Ring in the holiday season with the perennial favorite, Handel’s ‘Messiah,'” Murphy said. “The SFA choral area is hosting a community sing-along for Nacogdoches and surrounding communities. Bring your ‘Messiah’ score or rent one for $2 from the SFA choral area and sing or listen to Handel’s glorious masterpiece.”
The program will feature graduate and undergraduate student soloists Cole Jones of Livingston, Nathan Ponder and Anthony Rodriguez, both of Houston, William Murphy of Nacogdoches, Summer Price of Needville, Reagan Bradshaw of Wiley, Kayla Luptak of Bullard, Megan Stone of Spring, Brianna Glaze of Beaumont and Viveca Richards of Houston. In addition to Murphy, conductors will include Dr. Tod Fish, associate director of choral activities, and SFA graduate students in choral conducting, Jacob Rivas of The Colony, David Zielke of Albany, Oregon, and Greg Simmons of Lufkin. Accompanists will be SFA collaborative pianists Dr. Ron Petti and Dr. Thomas Nixon.
Cole Concert Hall is located in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Drive.
Tickets are $15 adults, $10 senior citizens, $5 students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.
