‘Messiah’ returns to La Grande

Published 3:00 am Monday, September 30, 2024

LA GRANDE — Local musicians are needed to help revive a Christmas classic in Union County.

Singers and instrumentalists are invited to perform in a production of Handel’s “Messiah,” which will be presented Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. in La Grande High School’s auditorium.

This will mark the first time since 2019 that Handel’s “Messiah” has been performed in La Grande. It will again be staged by the informally named La Grande Messiah Community Choir, which put on the performance many times from 1985 through 2019.

The production was discontinued in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wes Rampton and his wife, Marie, both members of La Grande Messiah Community Choir for more than 20 years, are among those helping to bring back Handel’s “Messiah.”

“It is a labor of love. We are excited to get it running again,” Wes Rampton said.

The La Grande Messiah Community Choir will begin practice on Oct. 6 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1802 Gekeler Lane.

“Everyone is welcome,” Marie Rampton said.

Orchestra performers will practice from 5-6 p.m. and the choir from 6-8 p.m. each Sunday in October. Practices will be moved to the La Grande High School theater in November.

Tryouts are not required to sing in the choir. However, auditions for solo vocalists will be held at 5 p.m. on Nov. 3 at La Grande High School.

Russ Carpenter will direct the Dec. 15 production of Handel’s “Messiah,” according to a news release from the La Grande Community Messiah Choir. Carpenter grew up in La Grande and is a graduate of La Grande High School. He has an undergraduate and a graduate degree from the University of Oregon School of Music. He taught music, drama, math and English for 40 years in the Adrian, Nyssa, Myrtle Point and Baker school districts.

Carpenter now lives in Baker City where he conducts the Baker Community Band. He has conducted the Grande Ronde Community Band since 2022.

Carpenter is continuing a legacy started by the late Don Jensen, who was a director for the La Grande Messiah Community Choir for about 14 years. Jensen first began directing performances of Handel’s “Messiah” in La Grande in 1979 and continued with yearly performances until 1985 and again from 2007 until 2013.

Previous directors have included former Eastern Oregon University music professor Teun Fetz, who directed in 2014; La Grande High School choir director Kevin Durfee, 2016 and 2017; and Ed Dixon, a former Whitman College music professor, 2018 and 2019.

Those who will be assisting Carpenter in preparing for the Dec. 15 performance include Julie Petitt and Cilla Coe of the La Grande Messiah Choir. Pettit will serve as the concertmistress and Coe will accompany the choir on piano during the first month of choir practice and will later sing in the alto section.

People interested in participating in the Handel’s Messiah production should call Wes Rampton at 541-805-9269.