The Marquette Choral Society is ushering in the season with "Hallelujah!," a concert built around selections from Handel’s Messiah alongside contemporary choral works. Musical director Dr. Erin Colwitz returns to the podium for a program that blends Baroque brilliance with modern color, offering audiences both tradition and a fresh perspective.
This winter’s focus on George Friedrich Handel's "Messiah" marks the ensemble’s first revisit to the work in a decade. Colwitz selected the Christmas portion for its enduring appeal, its vibrant writing for chorus, and the technical challenges that energize both singers and audiences. She notes that the chosen Handel choruses are crafted with remarkable clarity and vitality, qualities that demand agility, crisp articulation, and brisk pacing from the ensemble. With nearly 170 singers, unified phrasing and baroque style become major artistic goals, and the choir has embraced the push toward more detailed, responsive singing.
Enjoy a performance of Handel's "Messiah" as performed by Voces8 and the Academy of Ancient Music:
To complement Handel, the program brings together works that Colwitz describes as modern classics. Morten Lauridsen’s "O Magnum Mysterium" offers a lush, expansive contrast to the rhythmic detachment and intricate counterpoint of the Baroque. Music by Dobrinka Tabakova introduces contemporary textures and asymmetrical meters, bringing a distinctive Eastern European energy to the set. The inclusion of Arvo Pärt’s "Magnificat" adds another contemplative dimension - challenging for singers, but perfectly suited for the season.
Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Colwitz about the concert:
Listeners will also experience shifts in texture between the a cappella first half and the orchestral resonance of Messiah selections in the second. A small instrumental ensemble, guided by concertmaster Janis Peterson, supports the historically informed approach to Handel’s music, helping maintain lightness and flexibility. Featured soloists include soprano Keri Lee Pearson, tenor Tony Beacco, and NMU student Ava Fett, each highlighting key moments from the oratorio.
Hallelujah! will be performed at Northern Michigan University’s Reynolds Recital Hall on Saturday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m., with a second performance on Sunday afternoon. Tickets are available through NMU Tickets or at the door. The Choral Society will also host its annual community sing-along on December 19, inviting everyone to close the season with familiar carols and shared voices.
Public Radio 90 will present the Marquette Choral Society's concert "Hallelujah!" as a special edition of Peninsula Performances. This special program airs on Friday, December 19th, 2025, at 8 pm EST with a rebroadcast on Tuesday, December 23rd at 1 pm EST and is hosted and produced by WNMU-FM's Kurt Hauswirth.
We thank Dr. Colwitz and the Marquette Choral Society for their ongoing collaboration and support of Public Radio 90.
Visit marquettechoralsociety.org for more information.
