From Fred: Singers,
The 38th. Bi-Annual Messiah Sing-Along will be this Sunday, Nov. 29, at 7:00 pm in the Clarendon United Methodist Church. www.morefaith.org/music/messiah.php
It is located at 606 N. Irving Street, Arlington, VA ( www.morefaith.org/about/location.php )
This is probably the best of the singalongs in this area including any at the Kennedy Center. There will be hundreds of great singers (and non singing listeners), a professional chamber orchestra and professional soloists. It is organized and conducted by none other than *J. Reilly Lewis. (more info below) No rehearsal – just sing it. If you have not sung it before, consider this a total immersion learning experience.
Get there before the 7:00 p.m. start time to park close to the church and get a good seat. Bring your own music: The orange covered Novello (Watkins Shaw) edition is best but you can get by on a Schirmer Edition. Can’t buy or borrow one in time? Then come with someone who will let you look on with them.
The singalong begins with a 30 minute concert by “others” and then Part I (plus the Hallelujah Chorus) of Messiah. You can return around Easter to sing Parts II and III.
I hope to see you there. Flyer (reduced file size .pdf)
*Dr. J. Reilly Lewis has been at the forefront of chorus and organ music in this area for practically his whole life. Google J. Reilly Lewis and you get 680,000 references. He has been director of the Cathedral Choral Society since 1985 and is founder of the Washington Bach Consort. ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Reilly_Lewis#Education_and_career )