Asheville – This writer got the chance to experience the Asheville Symphony Chorus’s (ASC) Messiah Sing-A-Long, and it was simply amazing. Imagine hearing nearly 380 voices singing the “Hallelujah” Chorus, accompanied by pipe organ and select members of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, in the beautiful Trinity Episcopal Church. The entire program was top-notch, which is what you expect with ASC.
Like many organizations, ASC was affected by the shutdowns and challenges of COVID, but the chorus is coming back strong, especially under the direction of conductor Kyle Ritter.
ASC Conductor Has History with ASC
Original founding director of ASC, Dewitt Tipton, gave Ritter, who earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in organ and church music from Indiana University, the opportunity to join the symphony chorus when they needed an accompanist to fill in for a semester. The chorus was preparing for a concert with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra. Ritter said, “I came to know the group, and then several years later I stepped in to be the permanent accompanist and assistant director.”
Ritter, whose profession is as the Canon for Music at The Cathedral of All Souls in Asheville, left the ASC for several years due to life getting busy, but was invited back as interim director. “ASC really needed somebody to hit the ground running in August of 2022 to get them ready for an upcoming concert with the symphony orchestra,” said Ritter. “I had made lifelong friends in the five years I was their assistant director, and so seeing all of these familiar faces again and making music with them was really a lot of fun. I thought this might be something that could be really life-giving for me as their permanent director.”
Working with Asheville Symphony Orchestra’s Executive Director, Daniel Crupi, as well as Musical Director, Darko Butorac, has Ritter excited for the future of both organizations. For the Messiah Sing-A-Long, a small, select group of musicians were brought in from the symphony orchestra, and they were phenomenal. Ritter shared, “Concert Master, Maria, was the person who put together that ensemble, and they’re the best of the best.
What’s a Messiah Sing?
With a piece as rich in history and as firmly entrenched in the Western holiday tradition as Messiah, it’s easy to see why more than just professional musicians and singers have long looked for opportunities to get involved with a performance of the iconic piece.
Enter the “Messiah Sing,” an informal performance in which the audience, unrehearsed, serves as a chorus in support of an often professional orchestra and chorus. The tradition began among the amateur choral societies of early 19th-century England. Because Messiah was specifically composed to need only a few rehearsals, it was ideal for non-professional choruses.
“Messiah Sings are a holiday tradition around the world—and they’re a tradition in Asheville,” says Ritter, who conducted the ASC Messiah Sing-A-Long for the first time in December. “ASC hosted Messiah Sing-A-Long for years, and they were always very popular. Then we had the pandemic and had to pause for several years. So I’m excited to welcome the community back to what was a very beloved event.”
The Future of the ASC Looks Bright
About the future of the chorus, Ritter said, “We are still coming back from COVID, and I would say the future looks bright. People are enthusiastic, and we have younger folks who are auditioning to be in the ensemble and are active in the ensemble, and that really bodes well for the future. They bring a new energy, which is really positive and helpful, along with the folks who have been there for many years and continue to love the group so much. There are fresh faces on the board too who are bringing some unique energy. You feel like everybody is working for the common cause.
Upcoming Concerts and Auditions
The first concert this year will be February 17th and 18th at the Diana Wortham Center for the Performing Arts. The concert will be part of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra Masterworks 4: Classical Romance and will include St. Nicholas Mass, by Joseph Haydn (with the Asheville Symphony Chorus), Trumpet Concerto, by Johann Hummel, and Symphony No. 40, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
ASC holds auditions each August and February. For the 2023–2024 season, ASC will hold auditions in mid-to-late February. If interested, go to: https://www.ashevillesymphonychorus.com/audition.html.