Orchestra Kentucky opens the Christmas season with a concert of classical and popular holiday favorites. Entitled Messiah Meets Mancini, the first half of the concert will feature the nativity portion of George Frideric Handel’s masterpiece, Messiah. The award-winning University of Louisville Collegiate Chorale and four guest soloists will join the orchestra for some of the most familiar sections of the oratorio, including Ev’ry Valley, He Shall Feed His Flock, And the Glory of the Lord, Glory to God, For Unto Us a Child is Born, and the Hallelujah Chorus.

Conducted by Dr. Kent Hatteberg, The University of Louisville Collegiate Chorale consists of 60 singers, including the Cardinal Singers, a 40 member a cappella choir that recently took second place, out of over 250 choirs, in the 12th International Marktoberdorf (Germany) Chamber Choir Competition. In 2004, at the World Choir Olympics in Bremen, Germany, the Cardinal Singers took first place in the chamber choir division. In recent summers the Cardinal Singers have competed in China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea (where they won $24,000 in the Korea Grand Prix). The singers have made a Baltic tour to Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. Last fall, they performed in Tolosa, Spain, and have been invited back. The most exotic locale on this fall’s schedule was Ft. Collins, Colo., in November — in time for the opening of skiing season.

Soloists for Messiah, include soprano Terri Richter, who has sung with the Nashville Symphony, the Seattle Symphony, and the Grand Rapids Symphony and alto Kirsten Sollek, who has sung with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Bach Collegium Japan, and the Dallas Bach Society. Tenor Ross Hauck, who has sung with the Seattle Symphony, the National Symphony, and the Chicago Symphony, recently recorded Messiah with the Cleveland-based Apollo’s Fire. Stephen Morscheck, bass-baritone, has sung with the Toronto Symphony, the Dallas Bach Society, and the Milwaukee Symphony.

“I am quite enthused about our guest singers,” said Jeffrey Reed, music director of Orchestra Kentucky. “I received by bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Louisville, so I am happy to feature one of the crown jewels of my alma mater. And the soloists for Messiah are of the highest level. The audience is in for a real musical treat.”

In keeping with the orchestra’s practice of mixing classical and pop music, the second half of the concert will feature Henry Mancini’s original arrangements of some of the holiday’s most popular selections, sung by the University of Louisville choir. “I grew up listening to Mancini’s Christmas album,” said Reed. “We are presenting all of the songs on that album. First, there are pop songs, like Jingle Bells, Sleigh Ride, The Christmas Song and Frosty the Snowman. And we are also performing the sacred songs, like Little Drummer Boy, Silent Night and Away in a Manger. All of them have Mancini’s distinct sound, which is wonderful.” Preparing Handel’s and Mancini’s classic music has been a real pleasure for Reed. “Two years ago, I visited the flat in London where Handel composed Messiah. I visit the British Museum and saw the original, written in his hand. That experience made the piece come to life. And Mancini’s scores are in his handwriting as well. Seeing the originals makes me feel like I’m just one step removed from both of these masters.”

Messiah Meets Mancini will be presented on Monday, November 28, 2011 at Van Meter Hall on the campus of Western Kentucky University. Maestro Jeffrey Reed presents a pre-concert talk about the music to be performed at 6:45. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Free shuttle busses will run from 6:00 until concert time from Mariah’s and The Brickyard Café. After the concert, they will return patrons to the same locations.

Tickets start at just $10 and are available online at www.OrchestraKentucky.com or by phone, (270) 846-2426 or, toll free, (855) 232-1452.

Messiah Meets Mancini is sponsored by JC Kirby & Son Funeral Chapels & Crematory. It is co-sponsored by Anne Murray and Drs. Charles and Janet Bass Smith. The VIP Series is sponsored by the Haskins Foundation.

About Orchestra Kentucky

Orchestra Kentucky is South Central Kentucky’s only fully professional orchestra. It presents over 15-20 concerts per season. The Retro Series features music of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, performed by vocalists, rock band, and orchestra. The VIP Series combines the best in classical and popular music, often on the same program. Orchestra Kentucky distributes concert tickets to the underserved in the community through its Arts Access for All program and educates future generations through the Bowling Green String Academy and Bowling Green Youth Orchestras.