by Gesine Lohr
Alameda’s 22nd Annual Sing-It-Yourself Messiah will be hosted this year by St. Joseph Basilica, 1109 Chestnut Street (just off the corner of Encinal), Alameda, CA 94501, on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. We will be presenting the Christmas section, “The Trumpet Shall Sound,” and “Hallelujah Chorus” of George Frideric Handel’s Oratorio Messiah with chamber orchestra, harpsichord, soloists, organ, and of course with a Sing-It-Yourself chorus! Come sing with us! or come listen!
Everyone is welcome, so come and renew your acquaintance with this inspirational music. Please bring a copy of the Messiah if you have one. There will be a limited number of scores available “on-loan” if you don’t.
Admission is free, and everyone is welcome — this event is open and welcoming to all, of any (or no) religious orientation. Those who wish to can give a free-will offering to help offset the expenses of the event; we gladly accept donations towards expenses, but donations are not required! If you can, bring a canned or dry food item, we’ll have a barrel for the Alameda Food Bank.
There will be an optional chorus rehearsal on Sunday November 27, at 3:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Basilica.
Alameda’s Sing-It-Yourself Messiah was organized in 1995 by volunteer choir directors, choir members, and community members to provide Alamedans with a Messiah of their own. Since that time, soloists and musicians from all over the Bay Area have participated in the annual free performances.
I’ve played harpsichord for this since 2002, and love this gig! Every year, it’s great to see so many community members come to sing, to play, to listen. I look forward to seeing and hearing you there!
The church is accessible by BART and bus: Take BART and get off at the Fruitvale Station; then board AC Transit Bus # 51A to Alameda; get off at the corner of Santa Clara and Chestnut, and walk 2.5 blocks south to the church, which is located just off of the corner of Encinal.
For more information, and a poster, please visit www.alamedasingityourselfmessiah.org online, or call 510-205-9895 (Gesine Lohr, harpsichordist), or Terry O’Connor, director, at 510-523-0659.
