Sequim Gazette staff

The name “Handel With Care — a Sing It Yourself Messiah” was coined at a school where Shirley Anderson, now of Sequim, taught biology in San Francisco.

At Christmas the community was invited to the school to sing selections from “Messiah.” Various youth projects in the Bay Area were supported with donations from the annual concert.

Since no local group was hosting such a “singalong,” Anderson asked Trinity United Methodist Church in
Sequim to host this unique event as a way to raise funds for Sequim Community Aid. Started more than 50 years ago by members of Trinity, Sequim Community Aid consists of about a dozen volunteers throughout the Sequim area, from a variety of churches and independent organizations. Volunteers work in pairs, for a week at a time, responding to calls for help with emergency needs.

This is the 11th local community singalong of selections from Handel’s Oratorio, “The Messiah.” Written in less than one month, in the autumn of 1741, this work first was conducted by Handel himself in 1742, at a concert to raise funds for charities in Dublin.

Conductor and music director Dewey Ehling will lead the accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Singers and listeners are all welcome and choral scores will be provided.

Prior to the beginning of the concert, there will be a musical medley by and about Georg Frideric Handel.

Members of the Sequim High School Girls Choir will sing between the first and second parts of the evening. The entire choir will be performing at Carnegie Hall this spring.

Accompanying orchestra: piano, Pat Marcy; violin, Tom Barnes, Susan Braik, Kate Dean, Gwen Howland, Brook Jacobsen, Joy Klimecky, Mary Moon and Deborah Morgan-Ellis; viola, Julie Dunbar, Karen Hart and Phil Morgan-Ellis; cello, Janet Jones, John Melcher and Diane Vaux; clarinet, Bob Golightly and Bobbie Usselman; flute, Lesa Barnes and Sharlene Miller; and oboe, John Zuerner.