The Lebanon County Choral Society will perform their holiday concert, featuring Part I of Handel’s Messiah, on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., at Friedens Lutheran Church, Myerstown.
Artistic director Sean Hackett will conduct the choral society’s Adult Chorus, with a special guest appearance by the Youth Chorus, which is directed by Gabrielle Umholtz. A chamber orchestra made up of musicians from across the region will join the choirs for this performance.
“This rehearsal season has been so rewarding” said Hackett. “The chorus is larger than it’s been in years, and the musicianship of our members never fails to impress me. I think we’re all very excited to be performing this incredible masterwork together.”
Tickets for the concert are available on the choral society’s website, www.LCCSmusic.org, at a preorder rate of $15 ($3 for students). If this event does not sell out, tickets will be sold at the door for $18.
The choral society traditionally performs selections from Handel’s Messiah every five years but missed their 2020 season due to the COVID pandemic. To make up for this, the Adult Chorus will perform the Messiah in its entirety, spread across concerts in December 2025 and May 2026.
Singers are invited to join the ensembles for the spring season by contacting the choral society’s business manager at managementLCCS@gmail.com. Rehearsals will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Lebanon on Monday evenings beginning February 9, and the May 17 concert will be held at Annville Church of the Brethren. The Youth Chorus is for singers in grades 3 through 8, while the Adult Chorus welcomes singers in high school and beyond.
“Performing this piece every five years is written into our bylaws, and many of our longstanding members count their membership in terms of how many Messiah seasons they’ve had,” said Hackett. “It’s a way to make sure we never stray far from our original purpose, which is bringing quality choral performances of historically important works to Lebanon County.”
Originally founded in 1889, the Lebanon County Choral Society was reorganized in 1974. In the past decades they have expanded their mission to include a youth chorus, a free music day camp, and a young conductors’ program, all while continuing and enhancing the legacy of excellent choral performances by the adult chorus, the foundation of the organization. While centered in Lebanon County, the group includes singers from as far as Robesonia, Mt. Gretna, Palmyra, and Hershey.
The Lebanon County Choral Society is grateful for grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, and the Presser Foundation.
