Handel's Messiah

The Spring 2026 Collaborative Choral Workshop will perform selected movements from George Frideric Handel’s monumental Messiah. Composed in 1741 and premiered in Dublin the following year, Messiah remains one of the most beloved works in the choral canon. Blending Baroque vitality, rhetorical clarity, and profound spiritual expression, Handel’s writing for chorus combines structural brilliance with emotional immediacy.

This collaborative project, presented in partnership with Harmonia Choir of Ottawa, will culminate in a full concert performance with orchestra on Sunday, May 24 at St. Thomas the Apostle. Designed for experienced singers, the workshop emphasizes stylistic awareness, structural understanding, and the invigorating energy of Baroque choral performance.

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

Auditions: None (choral experience assumed)

Schedule:
Wednesdays, 7:00-9:30 PM — March 18, 25; April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20
Friday sectionals, 9:30-11:30 AM — March 20, 27; April 3, 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22
Concert: Sunday, May 24, 4:00 PM

Repertoire: Selected movements from Handel’s Messiah

Location: 
All rehearsals and concert — St. Thomas the Apostle, 2345 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa

Fee: $365 + HST
(Pay-what-you-can arrangements available) 

Formal fall choir performance.

Who is this Workshop for?

This workshop is for choral singers who:

  • Enjoy exploring Baroque repertoire in depth
  • Want to strengthen rhythmic precision, stylistic articulation, and ensemble awareness
  • Seek a focused, collaborative choral project with strong artistic goals
  • Are interested in examining Handel’s structural architecture and rhetorical writing
  • Value singing within a combined ensemble environment
Members of the choir practice practicing while Roland plays piano.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Scores: Novello edition of Messiah (available for purchase or loan; details forthcoming).

Attendance: Regular attendance expected; final rehearsals and concert are mandatory.

Home Study Support: Links to online study aids will be provided.

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