- November 27, 2024
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During the early 2000s, Joseph Hochadel would participate in the annual performance of "Messiah" by the Sarasota Choral Society, along with his mother, and his two daughters who were teenagers at the time.
However, the choral society's tradition of performing the Christmas portion of the nearly 300-year old oratorio by George Frideric Handel extends across still more generations.
Sarasota's oldest all-volunteer choral group, the Sarasota Choral Society, founded in 1944, is now celebrating its 80th birthday.
Nonetheless, said Artistic Director Geneviève Beauchamp, the organization is going strong, with roughly 130 members involved in the performance this year and tickets nearly sold out as of press time.
No auditions are needed to participate, with membership open to all those who wish to sing, although the event will feature four professional operatic soloists and members of the Sarasota Orchestra, including its resident pianist Jonathan Spivey as organ accompanist.
“What I love the most is the fact that you just come and you sing, and everybody tries their best, and our director is one of these people that makes you feel uplifted each time,” said member Marta Calabrese.
Indeed, members say Beauchamp, who has been artistic director of the organization for 15 years, is helping the it to thrive.
Also director of music ministry at Church of the Palms where the performance is held, Beauchamp brings a master's degree in piano performance from University of South Florida and a Master of Divinity from University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.
“It's very challenging music for our singers, and it's really not meant for an amateur chorus like this, but what I love is how it's possible to achieve a very good performance, with untrained singers for the most part,” Beauchamp said.
Robert Jones performed "Messiah" in the Hartford area before ever moving to Sarasota, and said he enjoys performing religious music.
“It does something for me, and that's why I do it. I just love it,” he said. “I sang probably for 35 or four years as a tenor, and then I lost the voice and had to drop down. So the last three or four years, it's been a new learning experience. I do it by pretty much by heart, so I've had to work harder now, but that's alright. I like it.”
Beauchamp said the choir has emerged from the challenges of events like COVID-19 and hurricanes, although storm damage to the Van Wezel did alter the schedule of the Sarasota Orchestra.
That means the performance will be the first to take place Thursday evening instead of Saturday afternoon, however, members say the timing has not impacted ticket sales.
Beauchamp also said the presence of singers who have been participating for as long as 50 years, along with the new ones each year, strengthens performances.
“We all change, yet we do something so traditional, that is timeless, and that doesn't change," she said. "So those are the things that I find just hard to conceive. I was not born 80 years ago. I don't know what things were like, but it's just fascinating to me that I get to be a small part of it, and I look forward to knowing who will continue on when my time is done here, so it's a wonderful experience."
