The Kona Choral Society invites the community to celebrate the holidays with musical pageantry at their “Messiah and More” concert from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Kaleiopapa Convention Center at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa in Kailua-Kona.
The second concert in KCS’s two-part holiday series has become an anticipated annual tradition, presenting G.F Handel’s “Messiah,” a masterpiece that is the cornerstone of Christmas celebrations the world over.
This year, the chorus will once again bring the timeless beauty of Handel’s famous work to life, alongside a curated selection of festive choral works that celebrate the spirit of the season.
Under the direction of our KCS Artistic Director Susan McCreary Duprey, the 100-member chorus will feature powerful voices, soaring harmonies and stirring music intended to uplift and inspire as they perform movements from Part I, the “Hallelujah” chorus from Part II, and “Worthy is the Lamb” and “Amen” from Part III.
Accompanied by a 25-member orchestra, the oratorio will blend the biblical text of the Christmas story with orchestrated composition, making for a profound live performance.
Additionally, the concert will have guest singers from Oahu’s Windward Choral Society and soloists from University of Hawaii-Manoa’s Music Department. The young soloists, who are current and recent graduates, were selected by design, explained Duprey, as she “wanted to give the opportunity to the up-and-coming professionals to perform with a large chorus and orchestra.”
The soloists for the evening are: Sydney Branch, soprano; Jose Barbasa, mezzo; Sage Roman, tenor; and Tyler Shimabukuro, bass. Barbasa’s high vocal range will be spotlighted in “Messiah” as Baroque music included the complex countertenor or mezzo part often heard in the arias.
While the evening’s repertoire will begin with “Iesu Ka Ho‘ola,” composed by Randie Fong, followed by the orchestral arrangement of John Rutter’s “Candlelight Carol,” with Handel’s “Messiah” as the centerpiece, and the chorus will sing their traditional closing song, “Hawaii Aloha,” as the finale.
“There is always such enthusiasm around the opportunity to sing this great musical work and to share this experience with audiences,” Duprey said of her ensemble.
Duprey explained that this holiday concert also will have an added special formality with the showcasing of the KCS’s new concert uniform. The concept and design of the updated Hawaiian aloha wear was purposefully created by chorus members Lisa Twigg-Smith and Denise Blase to be a visual representation of the songs and imagery of Kona and the qualities that KCS express.
Twigg-Smith and Blase shared that the teal color graphics on black fabric with grey embellishments were chosen in specific reference to the Kona songs the chorus sings, “Waiau and Kanuha’s Kona Kai ‘Opua,” and Chris Fraley’s “Island Home (Awakening).”
Images represented in the printed wears include, among others, the ‘io, or Hawaiian hawk, kehau, Hualalai’s cool evening air, the ‘opua or clouds, and the sweltering land, or the ‘aina wela.
Duprey and the KCS, in new polished attire, welcome audiences to share in an evening of seasonal joy and cultural history, honoring Hawaii Island and a traditional choral masterpiece, through the magic of music.
To purchase tickets in advance, visist www.KonaChoralSociety.org.
Tickets are $35 general admission, $50 reserved, free for 18 and under, and are also available at the door. Parking is free.
For more information, visist www.KonaChoralSociety.org or email KonaChoralSociety@gmail.com.
