Orchestra of Southern Utah: 75th Performance of Handel's "Messiah" in Cedar City

By Kristin Beauchamp-Butt

The Orchestra of Southern Utah invites you to join them as they usher in the Christmas season with their 75th annual performance of Handel’s Messiah. Come celebrate the diamond anniversary of this Cedar City tradition, completely free of charge!

Performances will be on December 13th and 14th. The doors will open both evenings at 6:45, and the audience is asked to be seated by 7:15, at which time empty seats will be released to those waiting. The performance will begin at 7:30. If you have tickets you don't need please return as soon as possible. We want to seat everyone and expect full houses.

This production is funded by the generous sponsorships of the Leavitt Group and the State Bank of Southern Utah, and performed with the volunteer service of the orchestra and choir. As a result, admission is free! Tickets are are available at the Heritage Center box office—105 North 100 East in Cedar City during regular business hours.

Handel’s Messiah was written in 1741 and tells the story of the Christ in three chapters, corresponding to His birth, death, and resurrection. The piece takes its audience on an emotional and spiritual journey, climaxing with the famous “Hallelujah Chorus,” and ending with a reverent and uplifting series of “amen.”

The first performance of Handel’s Messiah in Cedar City was on New Year’s Day in 1925. Beginning in 1940, it became a winter tradition. Originally performed by Southern Utah University (called the Branch Agricultural College back then), the Orchestra of Southern Utah has since taken up the responsibility.

Cedar City has a long and vibrant history with the musical arts. From the earliest Mormon pioneers who used fiddle music to keep warm throughout the cold winters, to the Cedar City Band who would perform in the City Park and later as an official military unit with the US Army, the musical residents of Cedar City have consistently come together to support their community. Directed by ambitious and charitable leaders (such as Orien Dalley, who donated almost 100 string instruments to SUU as he retired, or the famous and benevolent Roy L. Halversen), the orchestral scene grew to proportions unheard of considering the small area. This growth culminated in the construction of the Heritage Center, which has provided a permanent home for the Orchestra of Southern Utah as well as a venue for even more areas of art to flourish.

Jackie Riddle-Jackson will be directing and conducting this year’s performances. A panel of judges including Harold Shirley (President of the Orchestra of Southern Utah), Ron Cardon (community member and Southern Utah University Alumnus), Mark Ganowsky (Cedar High School Chorale Director), and Carol Ann Modesitt (Professor of Voice at Southern Utah University) evaluated the auditions. After careful deliberation, the panel decided that the soloists for this year’s Messiah will include: Alex Byers, Taliah Byers, Taryn Thomas, Terri Metcalf-Peterson, Glen Reber, Corlissa Jensen, Shannon Birch, Tyler Melling, Brandi Hall, Leslie Perkins, and Taylor Rowley. These individuals come from a variety of backgrounds encompassing the Cedar City community, Southern Utah University, and Dixie State University. The famous trumpet solo for “The Trumpet Will Sound” will be performed by Adam Lambert on the Sunday performance, and Austin Clark for the Monday performance.

Children over 6 with adult supervision are welcome, but no babies please as the performance is recorded.

Further information: Emily Hepworth, OSU Manager, 435-233-8213.

Photo by OSU Cellist Brooke MacNaughtan, poster design by Rollan Fell.

Jackie Riddle-Jackson directs this season's peformance.

Below is a sampling of previous performances. If you have any programs from before 1970 please send to osucedarcity@gmail.com or notify us so we can scan them.