The Choral Arts Society will be performing Handel's Messiah with professional orchestra on
April 30th, 2023 at 4PM in Parmer Hall, as part of Messiah University's High Center Series.
Auditions for this year's ensemble will be held December 6th and 13th, 2022, or by appointment at Messiah University.
Please contact Joy Meade at jmeade@messiah.edu or call 717-766-2511 x6474 to schedule your audition.
Rehearsals:
Messiah University Choral Arts Society rehearses on Tuesday evenings (7:15-9:30 PM). Rehearsals will take place in the Martin Choral Rehearsal Hall, in the Calvin and Janet High Center, on Messiah University's campus.
About the ensemble:
The Messiah University Choral Arts Society, is our largest campus choir made up of students, faculty and staff from Messiah University and members of the greater Harrisburg community. Founded by Messiah music professor Earl “Prof” Miller in 1946, the ensemble was originally called the Alumni Oratorio Society. Later, the name was changed to the Grantham Oratorio Society to emphasize the community in which they participated. Earl Miller directed the choir for 22 years, followed by Messiah professors Ronald Sider, who led the group for 28 years, and Ronald Miller, the 1997 interim director. In 1998, the choir was renamed the Messiah College Choral Arts Society to reflect the group’s rich heritage with the college. Under Linda Tedford's 20-year tenure, Choral Arts Society began regular collaborations with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, and the choir continues to perform majors works with orchestra each season. Recent seasons have included performances of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Poulenc's Gloria, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Bach's Magnificat and Haydn's St. Nicholas Mass.
About the director, Joy Meade:
Dr. Joy Elizabeth Meade enjoys a versatile career as a conductor, singer and teacher. She is honored to be the new the Director of Choral Activities at Messiah Unviersity, where she conducts the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Choral Arts Society and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting. Prior to her appointment at Messiah, Dr. Meade was the Associate Director of Choirs at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. A Pennsylvania native, Dr. Meade’s music career began in Kennett Square, PA, where she taught middle and high school choir and orchestra for the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Meade is an active guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator, and continues to pursue professional singing opportunities throughout the East coast.
Dr. Meade holds a D.M.A. in conducting from the University of Georgia, where she was a Presidential Fellow and studied with Daniel Bara and JD Burnett. She completed a M.M. in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College with Joe Miller, Andrew Megill and James Jordan, and earned a B.A. in voice performance and French from the University of Richmond.