INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra presents the full oratorio of Handel’s Messiah at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13. For the 27th consecutive year, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra continues its holiday tradition of presenting Handel’s Messiah. Concert collaborators include Christian Theological Seminary, Encore Vocal Arts and Tabernacle Presbyterian Church. Come enjoy Handel’s beloved masterwork true to the composer’s intentions: an intimate orchestra displaying the intricate musical lines to their full majesty.

Music Director Matthew Kraemer will conduct the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, four acclaimed soloists, 70 vocalists from Encore Vocal Arts and the Sanctuary Choir of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church in Handel’s famous oratorio. The soloists are talented and distinguished. Sari Gruber, soprano, was hailed as “nothing short of sensational by Opera magazine. Angela Young Smucker, mezzo-soprano, has earned praise for her “rich, secure mezzo-soprano” by Chicago Tribune. Tenor Derek Chester and bass Michael Dean complete the quartet with Chester’s “beautifully shaped and carefully nuanced singing,” and Dean, who has been lauded for being “the standout, his voice a penetrating wake-up call.”

Grab your score and experience the newest holiday tradition in Indianapolis at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13. Join the ICO at the only Messiah Sing-Along in Indianapolis for your opportunity to perform beloved selections from Handel’s Messiah at the Indiana Landmarks Center. The Sing-Along concert will consist of selected movements, airs, and choruses from the first section, and the ever popular Hallelujah Chorus. The Sing-Along will give local singers the opportunity to participate in a performance with professional soloists and a professional orchestra. Audience members can bring their own music, download a score from icomusic.org, or borrow or purchase a score at the performance.

If you are interested in learning more, join the ICO and Christian Theological Seminary for a pre-concert lecture by Hebrew Bible Scholar Dr. Richard H. Lowery, Affiliate Professor at CTS and Dr. Matthew Myer Boulton, President and Professor of Theology at no additional cost. The pre-concert lecture begins at 2:15 p.m. in the church parlor at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon, and at 6:45 p.m. in the Cook Theater at the Indiana Landmarks Center on Monday evening. At both performances, there will be a collection of non-perishable food items to benefit the Mid-North Food Pantry.

The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra’s ongoing mission is to advance and promote music composed for the small orchestra through professional concert performances and educational programs. Tune in to WFYI 90.1 FM at 9 p.m. each Sunday evening and 10 p.m. Monday evenings to hear the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra Broadcast featuring excerpts of live ICO concerts. Filling a much-needed role in the community, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra also provides accompaniment to many area arts and educational organizations. The ICO offers a variety of educational programs, including the Funtastic Classics, In-School Residencies, and Concert Connections.

Intimate concert experiences, classic repertoire, and original programming are all part of the ICO experience. For more information about the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and its “Intimate, Classic, Original” season, visit icomusic.org, call (317) 940-9607, email [email protected] or visit us on Facebook.