The Phoenix Symphony will perform the beloved Handel’s Messiah at three Valley locations this holiday season.
With the “Hallelujah” chorus at its heart, Messiah has become synonymous with the Christmas celebration. Tito Muñoz conducts this magnificent sacred masterpiece with The Phoenix Symphony Chorus and soloists. This season, The Phoenix Symphony is pleased to offer four performances of the masterwork in three locations around the Valley:
- Camelback Bible Church – 7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 15
- Mesa Arts Center – 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 16
- Pinnacle Presbyterian Church – 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 17 and 3 p.m. Sunday, December 18
Tickets are available for purchase on The Phoenix Symphony’s website. The 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 performance at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church is sold out.
“Handel’s Messiah is a performance that patrons look forward to every year as a fixture of the Christmas season,” said Tito Muñoz, the Phoenix Symphony’s Virginia G. Piper Music Director. “It’s a beautiful piece, well-known by heart to many. The Phoenix Symphony is thrilled to offer the performance at locations throughout the Valley to increase accessibility.”
The Phoenix Symphony Chorus is performing in Messiah and will perform in several other concerts this season. Founded in 2001, the Chorus is comprised of more than 100 volunteers who live in the Phoenix area. Chorus members collectively donate more than 12,000 hours of service to music and The Phoenix Symphony each year. The Chorus has performed at Carnegie Hall, where it premiered Dan Forrest’s Psalm of Ascension, and as far away as Vienna and Salzburg, Austria.
“The Phoenix Symphony Chorus is honored to take on a higher profile this season,” said Thomas Bookhout, Chorus Master. “As volunteers, our members have jobs and other community engagements, and they work hard to create a stunning performance each year at Messiah. It’s a magical time.”
Soloists are Tiffany Choe, soprano, Lauren Cook, mezzo-soprano, Brad Bickhardt, tenor and Schyler Vargas, baritone.
The Phoenix Symphony was founded in 1947 and has grown over the years to become one of the state’s largest performing arts organizations. In addition to performing traditional and modern repertoire in the fall and spring in Symphony Hall and around the Valley, our world-class musicians are actively engaged in the community year-round thanks to generous foundation, corporation, and individual support. TPS is further strengthened by collaborating with world renowned guest conductors and artists. The core mission of The Phoenix Symphony is to provide the joy of live music as a catalyst for discovery, knowledge, compassion, and connection. Annually, our orchestra members empower more than 120,000 students through education and outreach partnerships and create opportunities for healing and deeper connection for tens of thousands of adults experiencing homelessness, in Alzheimer’s care facilities, in hospitals and in hospice.
Photo:
Tito Muñoz, Phoenix Symphony conductor at a Messiah performance. Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Phoenix Symphony
