The Singalong “Messiah” has been a holiday tradition in Sequim for years, attracting singers and instrumentalists from all over the North Peninsula to perform the well-known oratorio, as do thousands of other communities all over the world. This year the usual sponsoring organization was unable to put on the performance and community members, unwilling to end the tradition and forego their annual opportunity to sing the beloved work, have decided to do it themselves.

Dr. Jerry Wright, choir director of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Sequim, will be conducting the orchestra and singers. Wright has an advanced degree in conducting and was the internationally-respected director of the Seattle Girls’ Choir and the Seattle Oratorio Society and Orchestra before retiring to Sequim. The emphasis of this year’s event will be on singing as many of the better-known choruses as can be fit into the two-hour interval, and soloists, who already have been selected, will perform many of the important recitatives and arias.

The performance will be from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, with instrumentalists arriving at Trinity United Methodist Church in Sequim at 8:30 a.m. to sign in and get their music.

Rehearsal for the orchestra will be from 9 a.m.—noon, with soloists requested to arrive at 9:30 a.m. to rehearse with the orchestra. Chorus members should arrive at 12:30 p.m. to sign in, get scores and find their sections, which will be marked.

There are no requirements for singing ability; if you want to sing, come! Those who already have “Messiah” scores are encouraged to bring them as the supply of available scores is limited. Those who do not wish to sing are welcome to just listen.

There will be an intermission and participants are asked to bring finger food to share with their fellow musicians and audience members. Dress is informal.

A basket for donations will be at the door, with the recipient after expenses yet to be determined, but no payment i s required in order to participate.

As physical space is limited for the orchestra, instrumentalists are requested to RSVP to Joel Yelland at joelyelland@gmail.com. While the group would love for as many to play as possible, it will have to limit the orchestra to the first six string players of each section and the first four of each non-string instrument.

The goal of this event is to allow as many musicians and music lovers as possible to participate in bringing some of the most beautiful music ever written back to the Sequim community and to continue this annual tradition for as long as the passion for making music endures.