The Winston-Salem Symphony Presents Handel’s Messiah
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (November 16, 2023) – Winston-Salem Symphony Music Director Michelle Merrill will conduct the seventeenth annual performance of Handel’s Messiah on Tuesday, December 12, at Wait Chapel. This musical work is one of the most celebrated oratorios of all time, beloved for its beauty, drama, and famous “Hallelujah” chorus. This Christmastime tradition is a spiritual experience perfect for the height of the holiday season.
The concert occurs at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at Wait Chapel on Wake Forest University’s campus. Tickets start at $29 and can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling the Box Office at (336) 464-0145.
The Winston-Salem Symphony performance of the Messiah will feature the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus along with guest soloists Ashley Fabian, soprano; Leah Wool, mezzo-soprano; Gene Stenger, tenor; Michael Hix, bass.
The Winston-Salem Symphony is partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank to collect non-perishable food donations before the concert. Trucks and volunteers will be on-site to allow patrons to drop off donations on their way into Wait Chapel. The Second Harvest network is experiencing record-level requests for food assistance – more than 73,0000 unique individuals received help in October alone – 27,000 more people than this time last year. The most needed items include peanut butter, canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, canned or dried beans, brown rice, cereal, and spices.
About the Soloists
Ashley Fabian has been called “a vision of sunshine and joy” by the New York Classical Review. Fabian has starred in productions across the nation, earning her many accolades. She may be recognized from multiple films on the Lifetime Movie Network or as an undefeated contestant on Wheel of Fortune.
Grammy-nominated mezzo-soprano Leah Wool is known for her highly sought-after tonal clarity. Wool has performed with major symphonies across the United States, including appearances with the Metropolitan Opera, Nashville Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and bowed as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with the Piedmont Opera.
The New York Times acclaimed Gene Stenger as an “impressive tenor” and praised him for his “sweet vibrancy” by The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Stenger is one of the nation’s foremost Bach specialists and frequent oratorio performances by Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Mozart. He holds a degree from Yale University’s School of Music.
Michael Hix is a renowned baritone celebrated for his expressive voice and commanding stage presence. His career has included notable performances at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood Music Center, Boston’s Symphony Hall, and Vienna’s Musikverein. Hix is a sought-after performer of concert and orchestral works with over 75 roles in oratorio, cantata, and musical settings.
About the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus
The Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus is an auditioned mixed ensemble of volunteer singers, many of whom are professional soloists or current members of area church and university choruses. Dr. Chris Gilliam directs it. The Symphony Chorus rehearses weekly and performs several times yearly with the Winston-Salem Symphony. For more information, visit wssymphony.org/about/chorus/.
About the Winston-Salem Symphony
Proud to be one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras, the Winston-Salem Symphony premiered in 1947. Today, under the direction of new Music Director Michelle Merrill, the Symphony fulfills its mission to “Bring Music to Live” by inspiring listeners of all ages throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad with various concerts, education programs, and community engagement initiatives each year.
This concert and the Winston-Salem Symphony are supported by Season Presenting Sponsors Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A.; Symphony Chorus Sponsors, AM Erectors; Chris and Mike Morykwas; the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County; and the North Carolina Arts Council.
Subscriptions and single tickets can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145.
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