Benjamin Vollentine, junior vocal performance major and member of the university
Concert Choir, performed a solo for the first song,
“Comfort Ye My People… Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exhalted,” kicking off the “Messiah.” 
The Lion's Roar / Allison Crady

The voices of four choral groups united to highlight the reason for the season with the Baroque sounds of George Frederic Handel’s “Messiah.” 

The University Chorus, Concert Choir and Women’s Chorale teamed with the Northshore Choral Society last Sunday for an afternoon Christmas concert. 

The Department of Fine and Performing Arts sponsored the performance, which was free for the community. This year the program featured Part I of the popular choral work “Messiah.”

“We’ve done more traditional Christmas concerts in the past, so this semester we chose to have a blast from the past, something familiar that people could recognize,” said 

Brian Martinez, director of the University Chorus and Northshore Chorale. “It’s an experience that most choruses need to experience, and it’s been a while since Southeastern has done it. We were up for the challenge, and I had the people to do it.” 

The production featured several student vocal soloists, showcasing the voices of Benjamin Vollentine, Brent Goodrich, Mindy Guidroz, Caleb Porter, Rachel Davis, Lauren Gibson, Bridget Zeringue and Kalee Broussard. 

Catherine Chrisope, graduate student conductor, chose the introduction pieces and directed the Women’s Chorale. She chose “Cry Out and Shout” by Knut Nystedt and “Ascribe to the Lord” by Rosephanye Powell. 

“To make a nice contrast between the light, delicate Baroque sound, we had a very rhythmic, very driving piece,” said Chrisope. “The Baroque style has very precise rhythms and runs, and it’s difficult to sing. You can do it, but it’s tricky.”

The chosen repertoire gave a classic twist to the typical Christmas concert. 

“I liked [the “Messiah”] because it still tells the story of Christ and Christmas, but it’s in a different way than we’re used to,” said Chrisope. “A lot of people are still very familiar with, ‘For unto us a child is born,’ and the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus, so it still kind of mixed in with our Christmas stuff. It’s just not like, ‘Joy to the world,’ or stuff like that.”

An orchestra composed of hired Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra players as well as some student instrumentalists accompanied the multitude of vocalists. 

“This is the first time I’ve done orchestra, and for this style it had to be very light and delicate and couldn’t be over dramatic and romantic,” said Chrisope.

Dr. Alissa Rowe, director of choral activities and assistant professor of voice, worked to prepare the Concert Choir and the Women’s Chorale for the show. 

“Alissa Rowe and I work really closely together. She prepared some of the student groups, and I prepared the big group and the others just joined in,” said Martinez. “We also had members from the community choir in St. Charles Parish that came and sang as well.”

For more information on Fine and Performing Arts events, call the department at 985-549-2184.