This weekend, Star Valley’s art community celebrates the Valley’s 50th annual presentation of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah.”

The traditional sing-in begins Sunday, November 30, at 7 p.m. in the Star Valley High School auditorium with a live Nativity, Bible Narration and community caroling in the SVHS Commons Area from 6-6:45 prior to the concert. Organizers and church congregations are collaborating with local food pantries during the event to stock pantry shelves and feed our neighbors in need.

With Star Valley’s inaugural performance of “Messiah” on December 20, 1975,”This may well be the longest continuing interfaith and community event in Star Valley celebrating the true meaning of Christmas,” said Margaret Tueller, who serves as Secretary to the Salt River Arts Society. “Handel gave the profits from his performances of “Messiah” to charity, starting a global charitable tradition” during the holiday’s. “In the Spirit of Christ, we also invite you to join us in raising support for Star Valley’s three Food Banks!  This is a time of great need and any donation amount helps!”

“Star Valley has an amazing tradition of performing the Messiah,” said James Arbizu, who has conducted Star Valley’s “Messiah” performances for over a decade. “It’s been 50 years that we’ve been doing this. The music in rehearsal is glorious! This year, we want to make it special by including a food drive and a donation run for food banks, after the heart of Handel, who used “Messiah” to raise funds to get people out of debtor’s prison.”

Historically, Handel composed and presented “Messiah,” his most famous oratorio, as a commissioned work to provide relief for those in need. “How fitting,” said Tueller, “that Handel’s work stand as a symbol of the true Messiah who paid the debt for our sins!”  Beginning in 1742, and over the next 17 years, Handel pledged all proceeds from performances of the oratorio to annual fundraisers for the London Foundling Hospital, which provided for orphaned and abandoned children.

According to Stephanie Henderson, who has participated in several of Star Valley’s performances of “Messiah,” and who has researched the history of the famous oratorio, Handel left the manuscript for “Messiah” to the hospital in his will, providing the hospital exclusive rights to the music in hopes that it might be used for continued fundraising efforts.

Henderson shared, “Handel’s unwavering commitment to the Foundling Hospital has given this oratorio the standard of being used for charity efforts during the holidays, and has been tradition for hundreds of years worldwide. Charles Burney, an 18th-century music historian, is quoted as saying, ‘[Handel’s Messiah] has fed the hungry, clothed the naked, fostered the orphan…more than any single musical production of this or any country’.”

Tueller invites the community to donate to the three food banks in Star Valley. “Handel himself started the tradition of giving to charity in connection with his performances of ‘Messiah’,” and Salt River Symphony Orchestra wishes to continue that tradition. Folks are invited to use the attached Venmo QR codes to make donations prior to and following the performance. Checks, cash, and food item donations will be accepted at the performance. Food banks are particularly hopeful for canned tuna, canned chicken, canned chili, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, jams and jellies, rice, pasta, instant mashed potatoes, cereal, mac n’ cheese and spaghetti sauce. Please, be aware of the expiration dates on donated items. The food pantries cannot accept expired goods.

“Handel’s ‘Messiah’ is a holiday tradition observed around the globe. Having this tradition be a part of Star Valley’s past 50 years is absolutely beautiful,” said Henderson. “Handel wrote his masterpiece with one simple goal – to make life just a bit better for those who were suffering from life’s trials. He improved the lives of countless through his composition of The Messiah – an empowering reminder to musicians everywhere that we can make a difference with our gifts. The musicians of the Salt River Symphony Chorus hope that the community attends the performance and feels uplifted from the glorious music and from the opportunity to give just a bit to make life a little better for someone else.

Organizers are extremely grateful to directors, musicians, community members, Lincoln County School District #2, food banks, and congregations at Friendship Baptist, River of Life, Morning Star Baptist and Berean Bible Fellowship Churches for donations and support that have already made this 50th year production and charitable initiative possible.