Händel's Messiah Sing-In & Carols in Muncie
Updated: 14 minutes ago
Some Christmas events invite you to sit back and listen, but Messiah Sing-In & Carols is a time to join in and be a participant in the music! Page Contents:
What is the Messiah Sing-In?
On Friday, December 11th, at 6:30 PM, the community is invited to gather for a Messiah Sing-In & Carols event filled with beloved music, powerful voices, the rich sound of the FBCM organ, and a curated art presentation curated by BSU School of Art students. This event is part concert, part community sing, and part seasonal celebration at First Baptist Church Muncie.
Admission is free. Donations will be accepted to support the upkeep and preservation of the historic First Baptist Church Muncie. Follow the link to learn more about this beautiful building's history as a fixture of downtown Muncie.
The heart of the evening is simple: come ready to sing.
Whether you have sung Messiah before, love Christmas carols, miss singing with others, or simply want a meaningful way to enjoy the season, this event offers a warm and memorable night of music and reflection. Everyone is welcome: church members, neighbors, students, families, and first-time guests.
The community is invited to sing as the choir
The Messiah Sing-In & Carols event is built around participation. This is not only a performance to hear from the pews. It is an invitation to join in song and become part of the sound. Some singers arrive with training. Others simply know the joy of singing carols at Christmas. Both belong.
The evening will include opportunities to sing along with carols and the choruses from Part I and the "Hallelujah" chorus from Messiah. If you are comfortable reading music, bring that confidence. If you are not, come anyway. Many carols are familiar, and the joy of a sing-in comes from joining together, not from perfection.
This event is especially welcoming for:
Community singers looking for a place to participate in a seasonal musical experience
Families who enjoy Christmas music
Students and neighbors who want a meaningful holiday gathering
Anyone who loves Messiah, carols, organ music, or sacred art
No one needs to be a soloist to take part. The collective voice is the feature. Your voice adds to it.
The evening will feature soloists who bring the music to life
This event will include accomplished soloists who will sing the recitatives and arias from Messiah Part I. Click on the soloists' names for more information about each singer and the organist.
Tammie Huntington, soprano
Dr. Huntington's website is available here.
Cynthia Smith, alto and conductor for the choruses
Dr. Smith's website is available here.
Shederick Whipple, tenor
Dr. Shederick Whipple, tenor, is the Senior Development Officer and Assistant Chorus Conductor for the Indianapolis Opera. As a performer, Dr. Whipple has sung throughout the United States, Europe, and South America in opera, oratorio, and recital. Some performing venues that Dr. Whipple has performed as soloist include: Indianapolis Opera, Teatro Sucre (in Cuenca, Ecuador), Kokomo Symphony, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Da Corneto Opera, Capitol Opera, Marion Philharmonic Orchestra, Lexington Opera Theatre, the Cleveland Art Museum, Macon Civic Chorale, Library of Fine Arts (in Moscow, Russia), Russian American Christian University, Macon Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Lexington Chamber Chorale, Opera of Central Kentucky, the University of Akron, the University of Central Florida, and the University of Louisville.
Dr. Whipple’s honors include: Who’s Who in Academia Award, Art and Soul Award and Sponsorship with the Indianapolis Arts Council, the Lymon T. Johnson Fellowship at the University of Kentucky. Previousappointments include Director of Financial Aid at Ivy Tech Community College’s Hamilton County Campusand Associate Professor of Music and Director of Opera at Taylor University as well as faculty member at Cuyahoga Community College, Fairmont School of Music, and the Mercer University Preparatory Program.
An active community member, Dr. Whipple has served President of the Marion Philharmonic Orchestra Board in Marion, Indiana. In addition, he was an arts columnist for the Marion Chronicle Tribune. Dr. Whipple has the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Biology (Minor in Chemistry) and Bachelor of Arts in Music from Mercer University (Macon, GA), cum laude, Master of Music from the University of Kentucky, and Doctor Musical Arts from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Jon Truitt, bass
Dr. Truitt's biography is available here.
John Emert, organist
Dr. John Emert is Music Director/Organist at Community of Hope, A United Methodist Congregation, Muncie; and Dean Emeritus of Honors College, Ball State University. His teachers include Ernie Hoffman, formerly at Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal), Cincinnati; organist John Brock, University of Tennessee; and Don Neuen, formerly at the Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove. He has over 20 published anthems, mostly on the Purifoy Publishing/Lorenz label. He and his wife Dr. Elizabeth Jared are proud parents of son Jacob, who is currently pursuing graduate studies in chemistry at Ohio State University.
BSU School of Art students will add a visual dimension
The event will also include an art presentation curated by BSU School of Art students that will be projected during the Messiah portion of the concert.
That blend of voices, organ, solo music, carols, and student curated artwork makes the evening feel full without feeling crowded. Each part supports the others.
The Program for the Evening
Title | Type | |
1 | Overture | John Emert, organ |
2 | Comfort Ye My People | tenor |
3 | Every Valley Shall Be Exalted | tenor |
4 | And the Glory of the Lord | chorus |
5 | Thus Saith the Lord | Jon Truitt, bass |
6 | But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming? | Jon Truitt, bass |
7 | And He Shall Purify | chorus |
8 | Behold, a Virgin Shall Conceive | Cynthia Smith, alto |
9 | O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion | Cynthia Smith, alto (aria only) |
10 | For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover the Earth | Jon Truitt, bass |
11 | The People That Walked in Darkness | Jon Truitt, bass |
12 | For Unto Us a Child Is Born | chorus |
13 | Pifa (Pastoral Symphony) | John Emert, organ |
14 | There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field | Tammie Huntington, soprano |
- | And Lo, the Angel of the Lord Came Upon Them | Tammie Huntington, soprano |
15 | And the Angel Said Unto Them | Tammie Huntington, soprano |
16 | And Suddenly There Was with the Angel | Tammie Huntington, soprano |
17 | Glory to God in the Highest | chorus |
18 | Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion | Tammie Huntington, soprano |
19 | Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened | Cynthia Smith, alto |
20 | He shall feed His flock like a shepherd | Cynthia Smith, alto |
- | Come Unto Him | Tammie Huntington, soprano |
21 | His Yoke Is Easy | chorus |
44 | Hallelujah | chorus |
Intermission | 10 minutes | |
Seasonal Carols | chorus/audience | |
Cookie Reception Following the Concert | all // Fellowship Hall |
Plan to arrive with enough time to settle in, greet others, and get ready to sing. Doors open at 6:00PM. If you like to follow along with music, bring what you normally use for choral singing if you have it. If you do not, come with a willingness to join in where you can.
This is a participatory event, but it is not a test. The goal is shared music, not flawless performance.
Bring your own score, borrow a score, or download a copyright free score here.
FAQ
Do I need to be an experienced singer to participate?
No. The community is invited to join the choir and sing, whether you have years of choir experience or simply enjoy Christmas music. Come ready to participate as much as you feel comfortable. Bring your own Messiah score, borrow a score, or download a copyright free score here. You will only need Part I and the "Hallelujah" chorus portions of the score. Scores and lyrics for the carols will be provided. A program is listed above.
What time does the event begin?
The Messiah Sing-In & Carols event begins on Friday, December 11th, at 6:30 PM. Doors open at 6:00PM. Arriving a little early can help you find a seat and get settled before the music begins.
Where do I park and what entrance should I use?
The church parking lot is located off of East Adams St. You may also use street parking along East Adams St. or South Jefferson St. Use the Main Sanctuary doors that face out to East Adams St. to enter the church. If you prefer to avoid the stairs and use the elevator, enter through the doors in the center of the circle drive.
Will childcare be provided?
Families with children of all ages are welcome! Childcare is not provided, but there will be a family room available with a closed-circuit broadcast of the concert for families who need to attend to the wiggles of little ones.
Will there be music beyond the Messiah sing-along choruses?
Yes. The evening will feature seasonal carols with opportunities for community singing. It is designed to offer both listening and participation.
What is the art presentation?
BSU School of Art students will share a curated art presentation as part of the evening. It will be projected during the performance and add a visual element that complements both the music and the season.
Can I come if I only want to listen?
Yes. While everyone is warmly invited to sing, listeners are welcome too. You can participate in the carols you know, follow along quietly, or simply enjoy the music, organ, soloists, and art.
Do I need to purchase tickets?
Admission is free. Donations will be accepted to support the upkeep and preservation of the historic First Baptist Church Muncie building where the concert will take place. First Baptist Church Muncie has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1988. Follow the link to learn more about this beautiful building's history as a fixture of downtown Muncie.
Support the maintenance of this historic space
We've been at the corner of Jefferson & Adams street for around a century. For many years, this has been a place of worship, and a location where people gathered for life's most precious occasions: weddings, baptisms, concerts, and more.
Over the years, costs have mounted and upkeep takes significant resources. We want to continue to support community events like the Messiah Sing-In so this building can be open - not just for our church members but for our neighbors too -for years to come.
With that in mind, we would invite you to give what you can in support of this historic and sacred space. We are grateful for all gifts, no matter the amount. Thank you for your consideration.
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