Candlelight & Carols Concerts
Return to the Stage This Weekend
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After nearly two years away from live performances, the Corvallis Repertory Singers return to the stage this weekend for "Candlelight & Carols," the ensemble’s traditional holiday concert. And, to mark the occasion, the Repertory Singers are offering audiences a traditional favorite: Handel’s Messiah.
Not the entire Messiah, of course; that would take a couple of hours to perform in its entirety and would leave no room for the other musical treats the Repertory Singers have planned. Instead, the ensemble will perform Part I of Handel’s classic – and add on the most famous part of the composition, the “Hallelujah” chorus. (The famed chorus actually appears at the end of Part II of the Messiah.)
The Repertory Singers will perform the concert twice, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18 and 3 p.m Sunday, Dec. 19. The performances will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 1165 NW Monroe Ave. in Corvallis. Tickets are $25 Main Floor, $20 Balcony, $10 Students (12 yrs-College). A few are still available through the Repertory Singers’ website, repsing.org.
“It’s been amazing to rehearse with the singers and the orchestra,” said Steven Zielke, the conductor and artistic director of the Repertory Singers, and the director of choral studies at Oregon State University. “Making music in community is the lifeblood of so many of the performers. It’s impossible to relate how painful the last two years have been, to have this thing which seems so basic to us taken away.”
As for the Messiah, Zielke said, “it really is incredible.” The masterpiece features “incredible solo work, and the choruses are so much fun. It’s extremely accessible. Handel knew how to write a hit.”
Soloists for the performance include:
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Taylor Hulett, (soprano) an aspiring music educator and performer, graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in music in vocal performance and choral education. She is finishing her master’s degree in vocal performance at Portland State University. |
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Gale Hazel, (mezzo-soprano) a member of the Repertory Singers, a frequent soloist in the Corvallis area. She studied voice at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and at Oregon State University. Her vocal credits include performances in operas and oratorios, as well as performances in musicals and with jazz ensembles. |
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Bryce Tomlin, (tenor) an active performer who has spent time in the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest. He received a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University and a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Arizona. |
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Nicolai Strommer, (baritone) who’s been hailed by The New York Times as a “standout performer.” He holds degrees from Oregon State University, Manhattan School of Music and Boston University and is currently studying law at Willamette University. |
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The concert’s second half features a selection of carols and classics, with orchestral accompaniment and some a cappella selections. Zielke said he’s particularly excited about two choruses by Mendelssohn, especially “Verleigh Uns Frieden” (“Grant Us Peace”), which features a simple chorale theme and a cello duet.
Because of the COVID pandemic, capacity at the concert venue has been cut in half to allow social distancing. Attendees will be required to show proof of COVID vaccination; evidence of a recent negative COVID test will not be sufficient to be admitted to the concert. Unfortunately, children under 12 cannot be admitted. Musicians and Repertory Singers staff and volunteers are fully vaccinated. For more information, see the Repertory Singers’ website at repsing.org.
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Founded in 2000, the Corvallis Repertory Singers includes nearly 50 area singers, many who have studied voice or are professional singers. In addition to Zielke, Raymund Ocampo serves as associate conductor. The singing group has been recognized for artistic achievement with funds from the Fred W. Fields Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation; the Oregon Arts Commission, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; the Benton County Cultural Coalition, with funds provided by the Oregon Cultural Trust; and the Benton Community Foundation. |
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Your tax-deductible gift to the Corvallis Repertory Singers helps to ensure that our community continues to support exceptional music.
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