Choral Arts Society Director Linda Tedford Click on image to download print-quality version
	Soloist Damian Savarino Click on image to download print-quality version
	Soloist Rachel Rosales Click on image to download print-quality version

GRANTHAM, Pa. (March 30, 2006) — Celebrating its 60th year, the Messiah College Choral Arts Society, directed by Linda Tedford, will present an all Brahms concert, including the composer’s popular “A German Requiem,” on April 23 at 3 p.m. at West Shore Evangelical Free Church, 1345 Williams Grove Road, Mechanicsburg. The concert will begin with pianist Richard Roberson playing three of Brahms’ “Six Piano Pieces, Opus 118.” Seating is general admission, and tickets cost $14 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and $5 for students. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (717) 691-6036. Tickets will also be available at the door.

About the program

Johannes Brahms was only 28 years old when he composed “A German Requiem,” deliberately written without the liturgical, Latin texts that dominated other Requiems. Brahms’ “Requiem” heavily features texts from the Bible and challenges listeners to face issues such as mortality, the transience and fragility of human life and the need to have faith in a final triumph over death. His piece, written in German and coined a “human Requiem,” is comprised of seven different movements. The choir will sing Brahms’ “Requiem” in English.

Featured soloists include Rachel Rosales and Damian Savarino, a music professor at Messiah College. Richard Roberson, dean of the school of the arts at Messiah College, and William Ingraham, organist for First United Methodist Church in Mechanicsburg and rehearsal accompanist, will accompany the choir. 

About the director

Director Linda Tedford is Messiah College’s director of choral activities and conductor of the Messiah College Concert Choir. Tedford is founder and conductor of the Susquehanna Chorale, the Susquehanna Youth Chorale and the Susquehanna Children’s Chorale. She holds a master’s degree in conducting from Temple University, where she studied with renowned conductor Robert Page. She also studied with contemporary musicians Gregg Smith, Dale Warland and the late Robert Shaw.

About the Messiah College Choral Arts Society

The choir, made up of 70 members from Messiah College and central Pennsylvania, was founded by Messiah music professor Earl “Prof” Miller in 1946. It 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.

About Messiah College

Messiah College, a private Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences, enrolls more than 2,900 undergraduate students in 50 majors. Established in 1909, the primary campus is located in Grantham, Pa., near the state capital of Harrisburg. A satellite campus affiliated with Temple University is located in Philadelphia.