Danbury Music Centre Presents 62nd Annual Messiah

On Saturday, December 15 at 3 PM, the Danbury Music Centre will present its 62nd annual performance of Handel's Messiah, a famous oratorio that has become a long-time musical tradition in the greater Danbury community. This year's performance takes place at First Congregational Church in Danbury and features the Danbury Concert Chorus and members of the Danbury Symphony Orchestra. This year's performance comes at a time of great promise and excitement for the Chorus with the recent appointment of Jason Thoms as Danbury Concert Chorus Music Director. This will be his first performance of Messiah with the Chorus and only his second overall since being appointed this past June.  He is well-known in the choral world, having been the Director of Choral Activities at Concordia College since 2007. 

In addition to Thoms, soprano Karin Laine, mezzo-soprano Sarah Marvel Bleasdale, tenor David Kellet, and bass-baritone George Heath will be featured soloists. Laine has appeared throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and has been the recipient of the Symphony Guild Awards, and the  MTNA Regional  Vocal Awards. Bleasdale is a regular performer with the Opera at Bard  Summerscape,  was the alto soloist in Bach Cantata 80 at Carnegie Hall for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and premiered Hollis Thoms’ opera about Martin Luther. Kellett appeared at Lincoln Center on a  program celebrating the 50th anniversary of Joseph Papp’s Shakespeare Festival singing selections composed for productions directed by Papp during the first 11 years of its existence.  An active oratorio soloist, Kellet has appeared with numerous choral organizations in the New  York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania area. Since 1995, he has taught private voice at  Princeton University.  Heath has performed leading and supporting operatic roles with Bronx Opera, Regina Opera, New York Lyric Opera, and HOT  Opera among others. 

Larry Deming and Max Vladimiroff will be featured in leadership roles with the orchestra. Deming will lead the orchestra as concertmaster. He has performed with ensembles around the world including the Hong Kong  Philharmonic Orchestra, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and the Deming String Quartet, of which he is the first violinist. Vladimiroff, who will serve as the accompanist, is an award-winning composer having won several prizes, including the Musica Domani International  Composition Prize and the Longfellow Chorus Award of Distinction. He has recently been commissioned to write new works for the  Vassar College Choir and the Alturas Duo.

This year's performance is sponsored in part by Preferred Utilities Manufacturing Mfg. Corporation and Joan and Steve Howard - a Donor Advised Fund of The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust