(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) – Berkshire Bach Society’s annual “Messiah Sing” takes place at the First Congregational Church on Saturday, November 26, at 4pm. The event is open to all, singers and audience members alike.

Berkshire Bach’s “Messiah Sing” is always held on Thanksgiving weekend. For almost 50 years now, communities both large and small across the U.S. have organized “Messiah Sings” based on George Frideric Handel’s English language oratorio composed in 1741.

Often accompanied by piano or organ, Berkshire Bach’s “Messiah Sing” stands out in that the singers are led by professional choral director Frank Nemhauser and are accompanied by the Berkshire Bach Players, a seasoned instrumental ensemble of professional musicians, including Lucy Bardo, one of America’s first and finest viola da gamba players (playing cello), and legendary trumpet player Allan Dean, along with Miriam Shapiro and Cindy Olgunick on violins, Eric Martin on viola, and Donald Sosin on piano.

Choral conductor Frank Nemhauser has been for many years the Music Director of both the Westchester Choral Society and the Berkshire Choral International (BCI, formerly Berkshire Choral Festival), as well as Director of Vocal Studies and Associate Professor at Mannes College of Music in New York.

The singers and vocal soloists are the members of the audience, who become the chorus and raise their voices in the majestic Hallelujahs.

Participants can bring their own scores, borrow one at the door, or purchase one for $15. (The G. Schirmer version is used.)  The setting is informal.

Admission is free; donations are welcome and are used to pay the musicians.

First Congregational Church, 251 Main Street, Great Barrington, Mass.