MELBOURNE CHURCH HOSTS HANDEL'S MESSIAH
by Carol Hearn
A standing-room-only audience greeted performers on December 6 for the 22nd annual presentation of Handel’s Messiah sponsored by Melbourne, Fla., Church. Singers from 17 area churches were accompanied by an orchestra of strings, timpani, trumpets, and harpsichord.
The chorus rehearses five Sabbath afternoons beginning in September. Over the years, strong relationships have developed with many of the returning chorale members. Melbourne Church and a few sponsors provide this program each year at no charge to attendees, approximately 80% of whom are nonAdventist.
The professional conductor hired for this performance was Jack Templeton, and the solists were Roxann Moran, soprano; Esther Fraser, contralto; Frederick Kilgallin, tenor; and David Peterson, baritone.