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Friends of Music to perform selections of “Handel’s Messiah”

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Friends of Music present the 22nd annual performance of “Handel’s Messiah Part I” and selections from Parts II and III, at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Solebury, 6587 Upper York Road, Solebury.

The Senior Choir of Trinity and the Madrigal Singers from Bucks County Community College will be accompanied by the LaFiocco Orchestra playing period instruments or copies of them, performing at baroque pitch and conducted by Timothy Harrell, organist/choirmaster at Trinity Church.

Rochelle Reed returns as the soprano soloist. She is a full-time faculty member at Bucks County Community College where she conducts the Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers, and Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, and teaches applied voice.

Countertenor Nicholas Tamagna, who made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in Handel’s “Agrippina” in the role of Narciso, and at the Winer Staatsoper in Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as Oberon is returning. His recent roles and concerts include performances in Halle, Germany; Milan, Italy, Moscow, Russia; and Vienna, Austria in works by Handel, Bach, Vivaldi, and Hasse.

Tenor Stephen Ng born and raised in Hong Kong, graduated with First Class Honour at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Subsequently, he received his Master of Music at New England Conservatory and Doctor of Music at Indiana University. From 2002-2010 he was Associate Professor at Florida’s Stetson University, and is currently Professor of Voice at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Ng’s portrayal of Evangelist in Bach’s “Passions” has received much acclaim, and he has performed as soloist with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Orchestra Iowa, Washington Bach Consort, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, and Lucerne, Tanglewood and Aspen Festivals.

Baritone Grant Mech holds degrees from Westminster Choir College. He has appeared in the title roles in “Don Giovanni” and “Gianni Schicchi” with Delaware Valley Opera, and in concerts and recitals, singing works such as Brahms’ “Requiem,” Mendelssohn’s “Elijah,” and Schubert’s “Schwanengesang.”

Mech is the choral director at Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly, N.J. He is a member of the Perspective Collective, a group that seeks to promote art song and opera in untraditional formats and venues.

Admission is $25 for adults in advance, $30 at the door, $10 for children 18 and under. Advance ticket purchase is encouraged. A reception will follow.

Tickets may be purchased at trinitysolebury.org/messiah.


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