21st Annual Messiah Sing-In Held In Raleigh

21st Annual Messiah Sing-In Held In Raleigh

Edenton Street United Methodist Church played host to the 21st annual Messiah Sing-In.

WRAL sponsored its 21st Annual Messiah Sing-In at Edenton Street United Methodist Church in downtown Raleigh on Friday, December 8, at 8:00pm. As is tradition, the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra provided the musical accompaniment for the event, this year under the direction of Alan Neilson.

Community members joined together to sing an impromptu rendition of Handel's "Messiah" and singers of the National Opera Company served as soloists for the event. Lucy Tucker Yates, soprano; Wendy Weiler, mezzo-soprano; Keith Hudspeth, tenor; and Charles Schneider, bass, are part of the 2000-2001 class of the opera company funded in part by the A.J. Fletcher Foundation.


The Raleigh Symphony Orchestra provided musical accompaniment for the event.

The Wesley Handbell Choir greeted concert-goers at the door with Christmas music, and WRAL-TV noon anchor Renee McCoy provided an introduction into the evening.

The Wesley Handbell Choir played Christmas carols under the direction of Dr. William J. Weisser (far right).

Symphony conductor Alan Neilson directed the evening.

WRAL-TV anchor Renee McCoy gave the welcome.

David Reese (right) and Karl Brown (center) gathered the donations for Urban Ministries.

Donations of food for the needy were accepted as admission to the event. Children from Edenton Street United Methodist church along with their parents joined Urban Ministries' Program Assistant Karl Brown and Program Director David Reese in collecting the donations on behalf of Urban Ministries.

CBC Corporate Administrative Assistant Libby Marshall designed this year's program and CBC Printer Carl Horton did the printing.

Singers filled the church to capacity.

Children from Edenton Street United Methodist Church helped with the collection.


The Raleigh Symphony Orchestra played the music for the chorus of over a thousand.