Sunday, Dec. 15, at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.—RUTLAND—Grace Congregational UCC will host its highly anticipated annual holiday concert featuring an afternoon and evening performance on Sunday. The event, a staple of the local festive season, will present “Messiah” (Part 1) by George Frideric Handel alongside Dale Sakamoto’s “Be Still.” Admission is free, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. A freewill offering will be accepted.
The Rutland Area Chorus, joined by the Grace Festival Orchestra and distinguished soloists, will bring Handel’s depiction of the Christmas story to life. This year’s guest soloists include soprano Evangelia Leontis, mezzo-soprano Amy Frostman, tenor Ryan Mangan, and bass David Rugger, all of whom bring impressive credentials and performance experience to the stage.
Leontis, a voice and diction teacher at Keene State College and Vermont State University, has extensive opera and recital experience. Frostman, a native Vermonter and long-time soloist for Grace Church’s Messiah performances, brings her expertise as a music teacher and seasoned choral performer. Mangan, a Rutland native and accomplished vocalist, has appeared with ensembles such as the Barn Opera and Manchester Music Festival. Rugger, a recent transplant to Vermont, is a musicologist and experienced performer of J.S. Bach’s works.
Adding to the program is Dale Sakamoto’s “Be Still,” winner of Grace Church’s biannual composition competition. Based on Psalm 46, this piece transitions from “unsettled reverence and instability” to a “jubilant reminder that God is always with us,” making it a perfect complement to Handel’s “Messiah.”
Grace Congregational UCC has a rich tradition of presenting ‘Messiah,” which includes nearly 100 volunteer singers and 20 instrumentalists. The evening is a celebration of Rutland’s musical community and the holiday spirit.
For more information, visit: gracechurchvt.org.
