Sing-a-long makes stars of audience

Published 12:47 pm Thursday, December 13, 2007

Steve Torrence doesn’t attend because he has to, but because it’s fun to sing one of the great Christmas classics.

Torrence is director of music ministries at First Presbyterian Church. At that church on Sunday, Handel’s famous work will ring out up and down Rockefeller Avenue.

The Everett Symphony is presenting its seventh annual Messiah Sing-A-Long. The concert begins at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian in downtown Everett. The concert highlight is that the special guest is the audience, who sings along as the symphony plays the sounds of Christmas as written by George Frideric Handel.

Torrence has attended three such sing-a-longs at First Presbyterian. He said the concerts give people a chance to sing a true classic of the season.

“You get to sing with the symphony, which is nice. There are some fairly accomplished singers out there and others less so, but there’s no disgrace in missing a note,” Torrence said. “And you really have the fun of singing it.”

The sing-a-long is also a fundraiser for the symphony so audience members also get to help out a good cause while they are having fun.

“You get to perform a great classical work without any fear of retribution,” Torrence said.

For those of us who are not singers, fear not. There’s enjoyment in sitting next to singers and being part of the throng, which has grown to a packed house.

“There’s always the excitement in a live performance, no matter how unpolished,” Torrence said. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm.”

The church can hold about 450 and the event has grown every year, said Janet Kelly, the church’s administrative assistant.

“We can squish if needed,” she said.

Torrence, who has been the church’s music director for about 16 months, added that singing in such a beautiful setting adds to the sparkle of the show. And the church’s great acoustics help the audience hear the orchestra, Torrence said.

“With the stained glass windows and the Christmas decorations, there’s a feeling of the season and all of that adds to the ambiance and pleasure of being able to sing a great religious work,” Torrence said. “It’s not serious music so much as great fun.”

Reporter Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 or goffredo@heraldnet.com.