"Messiah" community choir returns, invites new members to join

After having to take a two-year break, the annual Handel’s “Messiah” Interfaith Community Choir is returning this year.

“It’s such a beautiful, spiritual way to start the Christmas season,” Bonnie Arnold said. “It’s lovely.”

Arnold has produced the “Messiah” concert through the years after starting the tradition a decade ago along with Nancy Stevens.

“The last two years we were not able to do it because of COVID, and so we’re really excited that we could do this,” Arnold said about bringing the choir back.

As an alternative to the choir performance during the pandemic, another tradition was started — the drive-past living nativity. That event caught on and will also be returning this year on December 17. However, Arnold wanted to bring the choir back in addition to the nativity.

The “Messiah” performance will be December 11 and will feature performances by the choir as well as a Christmas carol sing-along for everyone who comes to participate in.

“It’s lovely to have everyone singing Christmas songs together,” Arnold said.

The choir also sings a simplified, cantata-style version of Handel’s Messiah, which Arnold said is always a powerful performance.

“We have such quality singers in the community,” she said. “It gives me chills thinking about how awesome it’s going to be.”

The performance is also accessible, allowing anyone who wants to join to be able to.

“It’s a family choir,” Arnold explained. “We have people of all ages and skill sets.”

Arnold recommends children be around 10 years old to join, and anyone older than that is welcome. For those who are concerned about their singing ability, Arnold explained the music is arranged in an easier way to sing than the full original “Messiah,” and the choir works on everyone learning and feeling comfortable with their parts.

“It’s all very doable, and we have singers of all levels join us,” she said. “If they don’t feel qualified, we will help them be qualified.”

Anyone who is interested in joining the choir is encouraged to show up to the first practice, where the music will be provided. Practices range from 90 minutes to two hours, according to Arnold, and there are four practices before the performance. The first three practices are on Nov. 13, 20 and 27 at 6 p.m., and the last practice is Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. All practices are held on Sundays at the Stake Center at 120 Shoshone Avenue.

Arnold is excited to “fill the community with Christmas spirit” through the choir, which she believes adds to the culture in the community and strengthens family ties by giving families an event to add to their Christmas traditions.

“It helps us remember that Christ is the reason we have Christmas, and I love that,” Arnold said. “I love that we all come together as Christians to celebrate His birth.”