Watch a video preview of ABS
"Handel's Messiah in Grace Cathedral"
"For unto us a child is born" from Handel's Messiah performed by American Bach Soloists
Hélène Brunet, soprano
Rebecca Powers, mezzo-soprano
Steven Brennfleck, tenor
Hadleigh Adams, baritone
American Bach Soloists
American Bach Choir
Jeffrey Thomas, conductor


“What stood out above all, in this annual rite that drew a huge crowd, was the sense of being addressed directly, personally, confidingly. Conductor Jeffrey Thomas brought it all together, melding his ABS forces with precision and intuitive responsiveness to Handel’s capacious 1742 masterwork.”
Steven Winn,  SFCV
Meet mezzo-soprano Rebecca Powers making her ABS debut in Handel's Messiah
How did you get interested in Early Music?
When I started studying at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in 2016 I was cast in Handel’s opera  Rodelinda .  After that, I kept getting hired to sing early music projects at school and in the community, and I was hooked!  I took a few classes in the Historical Performance Institute at Jacobs and began learning more early music repertoire – mostly operatic works and works by Bach.

Who had the most significant impact on your musical education?
In some way or another, every teacher, director, coach, and accompanist I have had has made me the musician I am today, and I’m sure most musicians would say the same.  In particular, my private voice instructors have had the biggest impact on shaping not only my technique, but my philosophy of music and outlook on life as a musician.  I cannot thank them enough for the confidence, inspiration, and skills they have equipped me with.

Who is your favorite early composer and why?
Without a doubt, J.S. Bach.  The music of Bach is so profoundly expressive and meaningful. It is absolutely beautiful to listen to and truly inspiring to study how he uses musical ideas to express not only the text of his pieces, but the theology and deeper meaning behind the text.

What is one thing that most people wouldn’t know about you?
I almost attended culinary school instead of pursing music after high school!  When I’m not singing, I spend most of my time cooking or studying nutrition and food history.

What excites you most about performing Messiah with ABS and Jeffrey Thomas?
This is, believe it or not, my first full performance of  Messiah !  I am honored to be singing with such a notable organization and accomplished director for my first  Messiah .  I had such a wonderful time working with Jeffrey Thomas early this year for  Parnasso in festa  at the Jacobs School and I am excited to get to work with him again for this performance.
MORE ABOUT REBECCA POWERS
Rebecca Powers (mezzo-soprano), a native of Jackson, Tennessee, is thrilled to be making her debut with American Bach Soloists. Proficient in Baroque repertoire, Ms. Powers has been a featured concert soloist with the Bach Ensemble of St. Thomas in Cincinnati, Ohio and the Bloomington Chamber Singers for their Feast on Bach series in Bloomington, Indiana.
She has performed frequently with the Indiana University Baroque Orchestra, including performances as the alto soloist in Haydn’s Theresienmesse and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. Rebecca recently performed the role of Apollo in Handel’s serenata, Parnasso in Festa under the direction of Maestro Jeffrey Thomas. During her time at the Jacobs School she also performed with the Indiana University Opera Theater as Eduige in Handel’s Rodelinda (2017) and The Teacher in Mason Bates’ new opera The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs (2018). Most recently she was featured as the alto and soprano II soloist for a performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor with the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir and Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra. She is currently a Performer’s Diploma candidate studying with Jane Dutton at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where she recently completed the Master of Music degree program.
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