Photos by Travis Neely
GCU News Bureau
The 110-member Canyon Choral Society and Canyon Symphony Orchestra ushered in the holiday season in grand fashion Tuesday night at Grand Canyon University Arena with the University’s annual presentation of Handel’s masterwork oratorio, “Messiah.”
“The best part of the experience was providing our students with a high quality, professional performance opportunity while, at the same time, sharing their gifts of music with our community as they performed a work that basically preaches the Gospel through music,” said Dr. Juan de Dios Hernandez, conductor and Assistant Dean of Music. “This is essential to our mission as a Christian university, and I’m very proud of the work of our students, as well as everybody else involved in the production.”
Featured soloists were GCU associate professor of music Dr. Rachel Velarde, mezzo-soprano; GCU adjunct faculty in voice Justin Carpenter, tenor; La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church Music Director Jennifer Sheldon, soprano; and Phoenix Chorale vocalist David Topping, bass.
GCU’s “Messiah” will be followed by a singalong performance at 7 p.m. Friday at La Casa de Cristo in Scottsdale. And the University’s annual choral concert, which will feature the Canyon Chorale and Critical Mass, will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at First Southern Baptist Church of Phoenix.
