Choral Society hosts 2nd-annual Messiah sing-along
Published 5:56 pm Monday, November 27, 2017
- MUSIC FOR THE MASSES: Stephen Brand, director of the Beaufort County Choral Society, leads singers in a past concert. This weekend, he’ll be directing BCCS, and anyone who wants to join in, in a community sing of Handel’s "Messiah" to be performed Saturday at the Turnage Theatre in Washington. (BCCS)
At this weekend’s concert by the Beaufort County Choral Society, everyone is invited to sing along.
For a second year, director Stephen Brand will lead community singers in a performance of Handel’s “Messiah.” Participants are not required to be members of BCCS. Instead, all they need to do is show up to Friday night’s rehearsal prepared to sing.
“We’re trying to expand the singing and the concerts to more of the community,” said BCCS President Wendy Thienpont.
Those interested are asked to meet at the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center in Washington at 5:30 p.m. Friday for registration, a light supper and a two-hour rehearsal, according to a BCCS press release. Another rehearsal follows Saturday from noon to 5:30 p.m. at the Turnage Theatre, followed by the performance at 7 p.m.
“Tell all your friends and neighbors it’s worth the stop to listen and marvel at what we can achieve in 24 hours,” BCCS past-President Judi Hickson wrote in a press release.
Thienpont said this year differs from last in that more time has been scheduled for rehearsals prior to the concert. While last year’s performance drew an appreciative audience, they’re hoping to bring in more singers outside of the BCCS this time around, she said.
“We had a great audience (last year),” Thienpont said. “It was some different people than the choral society.”
On Dec. 8, the choral society will once again be on the Turnage stage, this time for its annual holiday concert. At 7 p.m. BCCS will present “The Glorious Season,” which will contain pieces from Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” along with seasonal songs. The concert will be repeated at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Bath on Dec. 10 at 3 p.m.
“This concert you should not miss,” Hickson wrote. “The acoustics there are wonderful, and it’s probably one of our favorites.”
All concerts are free to the public. BCCS is a nonprofit organization, members of which pay dues used for music and accompanying musicians. For more information, contact Hickson at 252-975-1033 or Thienpont at 252-944-1750.