67th annual Messiah

This archived article was written by: Rachel Prows

Every year in December, the Price community and college choir join together to sing Handel’s “Messiah.” Beginning rehearsals every Sunday in September, the choir puts in countless hours rehearsing and getting ready for this traditional performance held on Sunday, Dec. 4, at Carbon High School’s auditorium.
This was the 67th annual Messiah concert put on by the Price community and the 275th year since the Messiah was composed by George Frideric Handel in 1741. It was first performed in Dublin and nearly a year later in London where it received a modest public reception.
Because the Messiah is lengthy, the choir and orchestra performed 26 out of the 53 songs in the three-part compostion. This year, the concert goers filled CHS’s auditorium.
Larry Martin, the new choir instructor at USU Eastern, directed the choir and orchestra for the first time.
“It has long been a dream of mine to be able to work with both a choir and orchestra on a masterwork such as Handel’s ‘Messiah’. It was definitely a challenge for me. I had to spend many hours preparing for each rehearsal, but I really enjoyed the musical stretch it provided me.
“It was great to work with such talented musicians from the Price Civic Orchestra and Chorale. They are amazing people and were very kind to me as I worked to figure out my in the group.
“I have heard nothing but positive reactions from everyone I’ve talked with. ‘Messiah’ is such a great work and so many people are emotionally connected with it. For this community, it seems that the holidays don’t begin until “Messiah” is performed,” Martin said.