Prescott News – Arizona Philharmonic and Prescott Chorale are collaborating on the first-ever immersive community performance of the holiday season—Handel’s Messiah as a special Sing-Along event. Sponsored by The James Family Foundation, this collaborative offering invites the audience to bring Messiah scores and join in the choruses, or simply bask in the surrounding music. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Prescott Chorale for a true community celebratory experience,” commented Arizona Philharmonic Artistic Director Henry Flurry. “This Messiah Sing-Along invites us all to become part of the music, bringing a meaningful new tradition to our Prescott community.”
The free pre-concert talk begins at 2:00pm, with the concert starting at 3:00pm on Sunday, November 24 at the Ruth Street Theater, 1050 Ruth Street in Prescott. Tickets start at $25 (no ticketing fee), and are available at AZPhil.org, or by calling 855-321-6724. Messiah scores will be available for purchase at the door.
The Messiah Sing-Along will be conducted by Dr. Edith A. Copley, the beloved and recently retired Regents Professor of Northern Arizona University’s Choral department. Dr. Copley is currently Vice-President of ACDA, American Choral Directors Association. She has conducted numerous performances of Messiah. This is her first appearance in Prescott.
Multiple Choirs and AZ Phil Unite
“In a time so needing unity, this performance is bringing together over 70 singers from the Prescott Chorale, The Yavapai College Master Chorale and the Flagstaff Master Chorale. Larger choruses, as this one is, are necessary to deliver the power and grandeur of the choruses. Examples are The Glory of the Lord, For unto us a Child is born, and of course the Hallelujah Chorus,” said Dennis Houser, Artistic Director of Prescott Chorale.
“This joining of Arizona Philharmonic with choral forces from three different communities makes this performance unique from the aspect that the music itself becomes the unifying element. All three groups have performed the music separately but through this medium, will form a unified voice for the first time to perform this work at the level that it most certainly deserves,” added Houser.
Community Lecture Series 11/23, 11:00 am
On Saturday, November 23, at 11:00 am, as part of AZ Phil’s ongoing Community Lecture Series, Dennis Houser, Artistic Director of Prescott Chorale, will lead an engaging session on choral music and the timeless beauty of Handel’s beloved Messiah. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children and are available at AZPhil.org. ** Please note ** the Community Lecture Series is a separate event from Sunday’s pre-concert talk and will feature distinct content.
About Prescott Chorale
Artistic Director, Dennis Houser, founded Prescott Chorale in 2015 when he observed the need for a semi-professional community-based chorus in Prescott. The Chorale, a 55-voice chorus, is known for their exquisite performance of major vocal works such as Mozart’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Mass in C and Puccini’s Messa Voci. They have also excelled at contemporary works including Ola Gjeilo’s Song of the Universal, Dreamweaver, and Prescott composer Henry Flurry’s vocal and instrumental work, Fragments. The mission of Prescott Chorale is to inspire their audiences through the joyful performance of choral masterpieces. The Prescott Chorale is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. For information about Prescott Chorale’s 2024-2025 season and tickets for their Christmas and Spring concerts go to PrescottChorale.com
About Arizona Philharmonic
Founded in 2018, Arizona Philharmonic (AZ Phil) is Prescott’s only professional orchestra focused on classical music, presenting large and small concerts that engage and inspire listeners. In its seventh season in 2024-25, AZ Phil draws musicians from across Arizona and is committed to offering transformative music, while nurturing community participation and supporting the needs and growth of the Prescott area performing arts scene. Recognized in 2021 by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce for Excellence in Arts and Culture, Arizona Philharmonic is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Ticket information, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be found at AZPhil.org or on Facebook.