Tickets are now available at myosu.org.
Handel’s Messiah is a Cedar City Tradition
By Amy Gold
Cedar City: The Orchestra of Southern Utah and Chorale present Handel's Messiah on Dec.
14 and 15 at the Heritage Center at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free thanks to sponsorships from The
Dixie and Anne Leavitt Foundation, The Leavitt Group and State Bank of Southern Utah. Tickets
are available at myosu.org.
Celebrate the spirit of the season with “Glory Revealed”, the 85th annual performance of
Handel’s Messiah—a treasured Cedar City tradition. This beloved holiday event brings together
orchestra, choir, and community in a powerful musical expression of hope, joy, and reverence.
Generously sponsored and supported, Handel’s Messiah has become more than a concert—it’s
a generational celebration where friends, neighbors, and loved ones gather to experience this
timeless message through music. Whether it’s your first time or your eighty-fifth, this sacred
performance is a heartwarming reminder of the true meaning of the season.
One of the current cellists remembers a particularly vivid performance. Leah Brown was
expecting her fifth child in January and started having twinges during the December concert in
1998. She finished the concert and had a baby boy named Calvin about 1 am. Friends teased
her that his name should be Hal for the Hallelujah chorus. Traditionally the audience stands for
this rousing chorus.
Jackie Riddle-Jackson directs the orchestra and chorale with assistance from Alex Byers.
The Cedar City tradition is to give several vocalists the opportunity to be a soloist with the
orchestra. Soloists are chosen by audition and include Matthew Clegg, Joseph Marrow, Ralayna
Amy, Alana Schmidt, Krystal Wallis, Madelynn Zobel, Zachary Smith, Payson Davis, Jordan
Sanders, Melissa Wright, Alex Byers, and Taliah Byers. Ruth Zeller performs trumpet for the
“The Trumpet Shall Sound”.
Sheri Butler helps coordinate the Chorale and they started their rehearsals in October with
pianist Jessica Mathews. Many family groups are involved in the production. Last season the
Fife and Riddle family had eleven family members participating.
Putting the Chorale and Orchestra together happens after Thanksgiving and is a joyous
musical reunion. In the 1960s Blaine Johnson prepared the Chorale and Roy L. Halversen
prepared the orchestra. When it was time to combine the groups Halversen would lead the
second violins, as Johnson conducted.
The Cedar City performances have been in many schools and community venues over the
years. Performances are now at the Heritage Center Theater at 105 N. 100 East. Musicians
volunteer their time to make these concerts available to the community.
Lobby music before the concert on Sunday will be the Southern Utah Handbell Choir. On
Monday the Southern Utah String Quartet will play a collection of Christmas music, mostly
arranged by Evelyn Jones.
Remember to get your free tickets early as this is a popular holiday tradition at myosu.org.
There will be a standby line when all tickets are distributed and any empty seats will be released
at 7:15 p.m. Suitable for children six and above with adult supervision. No babies please
because the concert is recorded.
"You are invited to celebrate the Christmas season through this wonderful music," said
Harold Shirley, OSU President.
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Who: Orchestra of Southern Utah and Chorale
What: 85th performance of Handel's Messiah
When: Sunday, Dec. 14 and Monday, Dec. 15
Where: Heritage Center Theater, 105 N. 100 East, Cedar City
Why: Celebrating the Christmas season through music with this timeless masterpiece
How: Volunteer performance by community musicians
(poster design by Shelly Forsman)
Jackie Jackson-Riddle with her Fife family participatants in 2024.
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