This December, the Star Valley arts community celebrates 50 years of presenting George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” as a Christmas tradition in the Valley. Organizers have issued a call for musicians, both instrumental and vocal. Additional plans include collaboration with the local food pantries in efforts to stock pantry shelves and feed our neighbors. The performance and sing-in is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sunday evening, November 30. Rehearsals are underway, though the concert venue is yet to be determined.

“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. At different times we’ve had up to 100 voices in the choir and a full 40-piece orchestra. This year, we want to make it special and include a food drive and a donation run for food banks, after the heart of Handel, who used the 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. The funds raised from the inaugural performances of “Messiah” provided 142 prisoners a release from debtor’s prison. Over the next 17 years, Handel used the oratorio in 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’.”

Henderson explained that food is often the last thing a household is able to purchase after other expenses are paid. “Many are finding themselves short after paying for housing, utilities, medicines, fuel, childcare, etc.” As part of the Messiah production, organizers are providing information on the Salt River Symphony Chorus Facebook page and concert posters outlining how folks can donate prior the performance and are planning to provide a food and goods donation bin at the venue. Representatives from the food pantries will also have a table in the lobby the evening of the performance. Monetary donations will also be accepted through several avenues.

“We are inviting everyone who knows this musical work, who has sung or played with us before or with other groups, to come and join us. If you haven’t been able to make all the rehearsals and are wondering of you should come or not, the answer is, yes! Come to what you can and we’ll have a chair for you on the concert date. We want you to join us in this historic celebration!”

Rehearsals are scheduled for Sunday evenings, November 9, 16,  and 23. Chorus members are rehearsing from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Thayne Community Center. Symphony musicians are rehearsing those same days from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Ford Theatre.