It didn't take long last year, at the first-ever "Messiah" Sing-A-Long in Grand Forks, for Joshua Bronfman to realize the Grand Forks Master Chorale had a hit on its hands.
"There were such good vibes in the room," said Bronfman, who directs the Master Chorale. "Everybody I talked to had so much fun, and I had a blast." And it all sounded pretty good, he said.
Let's face it, Bronfman said, sometimes classical performances can seem a little stuffy. But it's hard to think stuffy, snooty or rigid when a big chunk of the audience is singing along.
"This is a true kind of community event, where people get together and sing together," Bronfman said.
At 8 p.m. Tuesday at St. Michael's Catholic Church, the Grand Forks Master Chorale will lead all who wish to raise their voices in the second annual "Messiah" Sing-A-Long.
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Here's how it works. The Master Chorale sings from the front of the church. All those who want to sing along will be given music and seated in a section of the pews across from the Master Chorale.
If you don't want to sing, you don't have to. You can just listen.
The performance will last about an hour with no intermissions and will feature the first of three parts of the "Messiah," as well as the "Hallelujah" chorus.
How many people from the community will join in the singing? Bronfman said he won't know until Tuesday night.
"Which adds a little bit of excitement to the event," he said.
Bronfman said the "Messiah" Sing-A-Long is the kind of event he can see becoming a community holiday tradition.
"What's most important is that no one should feel intimidated to come," he said. "There will be so many levels of ability and people with different exposures to the 'Messiah.' If you are at all interested, show up and sing, and you will have fun, I promise."
Tickets for the event are $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $5 for students.
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Reach Tobin at (701) 780-1134; (800) 477-6572, ext. 134; or send e-mail to ptobin@gfherald.com .
