Margaret Tueller, RaDawn Ruud, Stephanie Henderson and James & Daphne Aribzu all stepped into the SVI Radio studio to promote the upcoming performance of The Messiah. The community sing-along includes a live nativity from 6:00-6:45 with The Messiah beginning at 7:00. The event takes place at Star Valley High School and acts as a fundraiser for the Alpine Food Bank, Thayne Food Bank and Afton Food Pantry.

(0:00) Weekday wake up on the SVI Radio Network Swift 98 and The Spur and a quick conversation with a whole (0:05) group of musicians joining me in studio today to tell us about the 50th year for the Handel’s Messiah (0:12) Sing-Along which is taking place in Star Valley on the 30th of November at Star Valley High School. (0:18) In studio today is Stephanie Henderson, Margaret Tueller, James and Daphne Arbazue, Radon Root is (0:23) also in studio today. Margaret, let’s start with you.

As I mentioned, 50 years of doing Handel’s (0:29) Messiah in Star Valley. Yes, the first performance was December 20th, 1975 and we’ve continued the (0:37) performances either annually or biannually since then. Paul and Jolyne Hokanson moved into the (0:45) valley and Jolyne said, with all the talent that we have in this valley, we should be seeking after (0:51) anything that is lovely, of good report or praiseworthy and that was the beginning impetus (0:57) for starting to have the Messiah here as a tradition in our valley.

Yeah, what a tradition (1:03) it is to 50 years. That really is incredible and part of a lot of those 50 years is Radon Root. (1:10) Radon, you’ve been doing this since I believe 1975, is that correct? Yes, that’s correct.

Wow, so what (1:17) is it that you love most about performing in this Messiah production? Well, to start with I guess (1:23) because it was a joint decision between my sister Cherie Call and myself to sing in it and to do (1:32) that together and we did everything together most of our life so it was fun to be able to sing (1:37) together and we bought our own book and we could sit together to share the book and it just (1:42) and then when the choir made the decision to do it every other year (1:48) we decided that we would try to sing in all of them and we have done well Cherie was unable to (1:56) two years ago because of health and then she died this summer so I like to think she’ll be singing (2:04) with us in spirit this year and so that was one of the reasons and that and I just like the spirit (2:15) that it gave me and that it kind of brought home the reason for the season I guess as they say. (2:22) Yeah, absolutely, so absolutely. Stephanie Henderson in studio and Stephanie I know you’ve (2:27) been involved with this production for a number of years as well and this year it’s a fundraiser (2:30) correct for the food banks in the valley? Yeah, we realize oh you know there’s there’s a lot to (2:36) celebrate with it being 50 year a 50 year tradition in Star Valley but (2:39) I think really thinking back to why did Handel compose this oratorio in the first place and it (2:47) was for charitable fundraising so he he composed it and and performed it for the first time in 1742 (2:54) and the proceeds from that concert freed 142 men from debtors prison which is really beautiful (3:01) irony as Handel was facing financial ruin himself so the fact that he could put down his burden (3:05) long enough to help other people and it changed his life it reinvigorated his career as a composer (3:13) and then he spent the next almost 20 years until his his death performing conducting (3:20) the Messiah and all those proceeds took care of destitute abandoned children in London (3:27) so we thought well what can we do with this this true intention this true spirit of his (3:32) master composition how can we use that to benefit our own community and that’s when we thought well (3:39) we should partner with the food banks so the evening of the performance there will be (3:44) representatives from each of our food banks in Alpine, Thane, and Afton and they will be there (3:48) to collect food item donations as well as cash and check and if you see our posters they’re posted (3:54) online at SVI and then around the valley there’s also venmo codes that people can use to donate (3:59) ahead of time and there’s a nice little list of foods that help the food banks the most if people (4:04) would like to bring food items absolutely so you can enjoy the Messiah and also help our local (4:09) food banks in Alpine, Thane, and in Afton.

Daphne and James are up at Zoo and Studio as well James (4:14) uh 10th year as a director for for the production of the Messiah in Star Valley (4:20) why should people come out to this show? So there’s there’s some music that that is here one (4:25) year and gone the next and there’s some that that span the centuries and this is one of those that (4:31) for me the more that I’m involved with it the the more it means to me right so there’s something (4:38) about not only how it’s composed but but what each performer brings to it and and the the message (4:44) that it that it has as well and so for me it’s one of the most influential musical experiences (4:54) that I’ve had across the 10 performances the that we’ve done here with me in this in Star (4:59) Valley and other places I’ve done it so if you want to um to connect to the the true meaning (5:05) of Christmas and and celebrate with us you know the reason for the season and uh and feel that (5:11) you know come come join us and and also uh give give back to the community in the way we’re trying (5:17) to do that as well and yeah so and and Daphne help us uh remind us just the logistics where do (5:24) people go what time do they need to be there? Okay it’s at Star Valley High School um Sunday (5:29) November 30th at 7 p.m. Excellent and uh and Margaret along with the Messiah you you are (5:36) bringing back a former kind of tradition with a live nativity correct? That’s right in 2018 and 19 (5:43) we started having a live nativity prior to the performance so it we’re going to bring that (5:50) back this year and it’s going to be from six o’clock to 6 45 we’ll be having um community (5:57) caroling and a bible narration uh to go along with the characters that are in the nativity (6:05) and this will add a special dimension one of our favorite things that we did in other years was (6:12) to have the children go up to the manger and sing away in a manger and that’s always a touching (6:17) moment so we look forward to everyone coming out Josh Jardine will be accompanying us and (6:23) providing music with his guitar and it’s a special moment so we’d invite everyone to come out at six (6:30) o’clock there will also be um posters put up that show pictures of past years and people can look (6:38) for that to see if they’re in the pictures to see who they recognize several things to look at (6:44) having to do with the history that people can see before the performance so we would invite everyone (6:50) to come out at six o’clock and then enjoy the performance at seven o’clock. Excellent so again (6:55) the 50th year of Handel’s the Messiah sing-along in Star Valley 7 o’clock p.m at Star Valley High (7:00) School when the Messiah starts but again six o’clock for the live nativity as well and again (7:05) you can bring some donations for the local food banks as well that’s in studio this morning (7:10) Margaret Tuller, Radon Rude, Stephanie Henderson, James and Daphne Arbazue as well so all part of (7:16) the weekday wake up on SBI.