PEORIA, IL -- The new venue for the 38th annual Sing-it-Yourself Messiah proved to be wonderful. The Dec. 7 event drew a large crowd and plenty of singers to St Mary's Cathedral, a lovely 1899 structure with great accoustics for music.
The event moved to St. Mary's from the Episcopal Church on War Memorial, but featured the same director, Bradley University's John Jost, and many of the same members of the orchestra.
The orchestra included trumpet and kettle drums which filled the cathedral with exciting sound. The soloists were good, as usual, but tenor Eric Ashcraft, a Bradley U. grad was outstanding with a huge voice, and expressive features that verged on acting as he sang the Messiah lyrics to the solo pieces. He's an opera singer who also teaches voice in Iowa.
One of the delights of the annual event is the paid soloists, all with extensive professional experience in opera.
This is one of the few events where amateurs can participate with professionals in a brilliant musical classic that still resonates after 350 years. It's always beautiful and fun.
-- Elaine Hopkins
Comments