Independence Messiah Choir - Handel's Messiah Eighty-Fifth Anniversary Performance (1916-2001)

Independence Messiah Choir With Messiah Festival Orchestra
Audio CDs available at this link: https://www.heraldhouse.org/collectio...

JACK R. ERGO, conductor
PAMELA HINCHMAN, soprano
CARLA WOOD, mezzo-soprano
DAVID BRITTON, tenor
KEVIN DEAS, bass
JANET KRAYBILL, harpsichord
Recorded Live November 17, 2001
Community of Christ Auditorium Independence, Missouri

In this recording, the Independence (Missouri) Messiah Choir presents its eighty-fifth anniversary performance of Hander's Messiah. From its inception in 1916 to its sold-out debut in Carnegie Hall in 2000, the choir has a rich legacy of annual holiday performances.
In 1916, Cordelia Hulmes organized and trained the Stone Church congregational choir in Independence, Missouri, as the nucleus for a mass choir presenting Messiah. After the success of the initial performance, Mrs. Hulmes and her choir saw the opportunity to present the oratorio as a Christmas gift, not only to their church but to the community, and the Independence Messiah Choir was born. She directed singers in their annual performance until 1923.
Subsequent directors included Paul Craig, who directed the 25th anniversary performance, and Franklyn Weddle who took the baton in 1943 and was the choir's director for an unequaled twenty-six years. During his tenure, the performance was moved permanently to the magnificent Conference Chamber of the Community of Christ Auditorium.
Harold Neal took over as conductor in 1969, continuing the tradition of excellence using the highest-caliber soloists, a finely-trained chorus, and professional orchestra.
Beginning in 1930, Messiah has annually been brought to radio listeners nationwide, and the televised seventy-fifth anniversary program reached up to thirty million American households. Performances have been telecast across America since 1991.
The present conductor, Jack R. Ergo, has directed the choir for twenty years. The choir, which is sponsored by Community of Christ, is made up of 350 choir members from all walks of life and many religious denominations. In 1996, members of the group toured in several European countries, singing at such places as Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral, and in 1998 concertized in such venues as the Salzburg and Prague Cathedrals. In 2000, the choir traveled to New York's famed Carnegie Hall, performing this treasured work to a sold-out audience.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Producer-Eileen Terril
Assistants to the Producer-Marilyn Rogers, Rneé O'Bannon, Penelope Belrose
Worship Ministries Coordinator-Jane Gardner Production Assistants-Pam Robison, Mark Robison, Twila Rider
Orchestra Contractor-Jolia Poltorak
Director-Dirk Ellingson
Producer/Switcher/Project Coordinator-Jaylene O'Keefe
Engineering Director-David Wheaton
Audio Recording Engineer-Jay Carpenter
Audio Recording Assistant-Aaron Beebe
Sound Reinforcement-Robert Haworth
Lighting-Jason Brownlee
Lighting Assistants-Sam Kemp, Jarom Mills
Video Engineer-Will Winholtz
Camera Operators-Michael Buttgen, Michael Doyle,
Dedrick Hooper, Sturgis Darling, Roy Millen, Michael O'Keefe, Randy Gunn, Mark Peterman
Production Assistant- Shirley Phelps
Art Direction and Design-Jeff Piedimonte
Photography-Roy Inman, Sam Rose
Messiah Logo-Barney Newcom, Jeff Piedimonte
Announcer-John Horner

FIRST VIOLINS
*Lawrence Anthony Brandolino, concertmaster
*Robin Prinzing, *Marcus Dowty, La Vonne McDaniel, Signe Sandquist, Mark Abelson

SECOND VIOLINS
*Dennis Bogart, *Becky Briggs, *Cathan Prinzing, Karen Grenawalt, Hugh Brown, Elizabeth Clement

VIOLAS
*Judy Koster, *Mark Snopak, René M. Burrow, Carl Cook

CELLOS
*Manon Lawrence, Jolia Poltorak, James S. Upton, Michael Bersis

BASSES
*Carole Brown, Kristin Crowell

OBOES
Gregg Briggs, Andrew Brown, Mark Cohick, Karl Hayes

BASSOONS
*Alan Tyree, Bryce Turville

TRUMPETS
Phillip Schaefer, Keith Benjamin

TYMPANI
Bryan Busby

HARPSICHORD
*Janet Kraybill

ORGAN
William T. Stewart

*concertino players