Deerfield Choral Group to Perform in 2014 Do-It-Yourself Messiah

Deerfield Choral Group will perform in the International Music Foundation’s Do-It-Yourself Messiah at Chicago’s Harris Theater on Sunday, December 21. This beloved holiday tradition offers attendees a unique opportunity to participate in the performance by becoming the choir in George Frederic Handel’s masterpiece, Messiah. Accompanied by a volunteer orchestra and a world-renowned conductor and soloists, audience members will welcome the holiday season, raising their voices joyfully together, at this cherished performance of the Messiah.

“We are thrilled to be participating in this famed holiday celebration,” notes Richard Lange of Deerfield Choral Group. “Working with famous musicians such Soprano Michelle Areyzaga, Alto Ryan Belongie, Tenor Thomas Glenn, Bass-baritone Mark Steven Doss, and Maestro Stanley Sperber is just one of the remarkable aspects of these performances. Do-It-Yourself Messiah has become a tradition our entire choir enjoys and we love being able to perform this moving piece together.”

The Do-It-Yourself Messiah is been made possible through generous lead sponsorship from Wintrust Financial Corporation, and additional sponsorships from Performance Trust Companies and the Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust. Rush tickets will be available at the box office at the Harris Theater the night of the performance for $15.

Performances of the Do-It-Yourself Messiah will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 21 and 7 p.m. on Monday, December 22. Patrons may take their seats in the theater, located at 205 E. Randolph, beginning at 6:15 p.m. The Messiah performance lasts approximately three hours. For more information, visit the International Music Foundation website at www.imfchicago.org.

About the Messiah

Composed in 1741 by George Frederic Handel, Messiah is a large-scale piece for orchestra, chorus and soloists. Originally intended as an Easter oratorio, it has become more popularly associated with the Christmas holiday season. A small church in rural England began the “do-it-yourself” part more than 40 years ago. Al Booth, founder of the International Music Foundation, was an early participant and brought the idea home to Chicago where he and Margaret Hillis, then director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, staged the first event in 1976.

About the International Music Foundation

The International Music Foundation (IMF) was founded in 1979 by Chicagoan Al Booth as the umbrella organization for two of his music projects: the Do-It-Yourself Messiah and the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert series, both now cornerstones of the Chicago musical scene. In 1981, with the help of Yehudi Menuhin, the IMF added Live Music Now!, a concert series for children in the Chicago Public Schools. For more information please visit, www.imfchicago.org