Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra & Festival Choir of Madison

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Ingrid Laas

A choir by a Christmas tree.

Festival Choir of Madison singers during the 2021 "Messiah" performance with Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra.

Handel's oratorio Messiah, first performed in 1742, has in recent years become a Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Christmastime tradition. For this year's concert the WCO is joined by the Festival Choir of Madison and four nationally acclaimed soloists: Sadie Chelsak, alto; Timothy Jones, bass; Sarah Lawrence, soprano; and Gene Stenger, tenor.

media release: The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) in partnership with Festival Choir of Madison, performs Handel’s Messiah at Bethel Lutheran Church in downtown Madison. Performances will take place on December 8 – 9 at 7:00 PM. Bethel Lutheran Church is located at 312 Wisconsin Avenue, downtown Madison. Tickets are general admission and can be purchased at wcoconcerts.org/messiah or by phone at 608.258.4141. While it’s recommended to purchase in advance due to limited availability, tickets will be on sale at the venue on the day of the performance.

At nearly 300 years old, the Messiah is recognized a the most performed piece of classical music. Written in only 24 days, this 259 page work is designed in three sweeping movements and, although based on religious texts, the message remains universal. For this performance the orchestra and choir are joined by soloists: Sarah Lawrence, soprano, Sadie Chelsak, alto, Gene Stenger, tenor, and Timothy Jones, bass.

To keep up-to-date with performance schedules, community members can sign up for email updates on the WCO website or follow the orchestra on Facebook and Instagram. To donate, visit wcoconcerts.org/donate.

About the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra

Maestro Andrew Sewell and the musicians of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) bring national caliber music to more than 250,000 music lovers annually. No other arts organization in Wisconsin performs free for more people each year. Founded in 1960, the WCO is one of Madison’s gems, a national-caliber chamber orchestra behind the now four-decade summer tradition of Concerts on the Square.

The WCO also presents the classical Masterworks series at the Overture Center, the annually sold-out Messiah, and education concerts for families and children. In 2021, the WCO launched its first Composer in Residence program, bringing in acclaimed composer, author, musician, and professor Dr. Bill Banfield to write major works while in residence. While headquartered in Madison, the orchestra has played around the state. To learn more about the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra visit wcoconcerts.org.

About the Festival Choir of Madison

Under the artistic direction of Sergei Pavlov, Festival Choir of Madison is an auditioned, mixed-voice volunteer choir of over 60 experienced singers. For over 50 years, Festival Choir has been making memories for generations by providing outstanding performances to the greater Dane County area. The group’s thematic concerts center on artistically challenging choral music ranging from traditional, modern, to eclectic works. Individual choral performances for the 2023-2024 season include a holiday performance, “Merrily on High,” Sunday, December 17th at 3:00pm at Asbury Church, 6101 University Ave in Madison, and “Gladsome Light,” an a cappella concert of Eastern Orthodox music featuring works by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Saturday, May 11 at 7:30pm at First Unitarian Society, 900 University Bay Drive in Madison. For tickets and more information, visit www.festivalchoirmadison.org.