‘Messiah’ is returning, after Juneau offers its thanks

Two performances of the ’Christmas portion’ of Handel’s oratorio scheduled this weekend at Ḵunéix̱ Hídi Northern Light United Church

Rich Moore guides Juneau Community Bands musicians through a rehearsal of Handel’s “Messiah” on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, at Ḵunéix̱ Hídi Northern Light United Church. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Biblically speaking, the messiah returns at Easter. Musically, “Messiah” is returning to Juneau this weekend.

The “Christmas portion” of George Frideric Handel’s 1741 oratorio — “Part I” and the “Hallelujah Chorus” — is scheduled to be performed by Juneau Community Bands members at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Ḵunéix̱ Hídi Northern Light United Church.

It’s a revival of an arrangement by the same group two years ago that replaces many string instruments with wind instruments. Among the changes this year is an organ — which the composition was originally written for — since one is available that wasn’t during the previous performance, said Rich Moore, who will again conduct a re-orchestration by modern-day London conductor John Lubbock of Handel’s original arrangement.

"It's originally written for strings and a few winds, and (this) is all winds and a couple of strings, which is kind of the reverse of it," Moore said before a rehearsal at the church on Monday evening. "The organ has always been a part of it. We just didn't use it the last time."

Featured vocalists are Kayla Dapcevich (soprano), Aria Moore (alto), Jacob Miller (tenor) and David Monroe (bass).

Rich Moore conducts a rehearsal of Handel’s “Messiah” on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, at Ḵunéix̱ Hídi Northern Light United Church. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

A full performance of all three parts of “Messiah” typically takes up to three hours, including an intermission. The "Christmas portion" widely performed this time of year, focusing on the prophecy and Incarnation of the messiah, lasts roughly half as long.

Moore said Juneau Community Bands is staging the concert again in the hope of making it a regular part of the community’s holiday season.

"It's not done very often and we're trying to build up Juneau again into the habit of hearing ‘Messiah’ on a regular basis," he said. "So we're trying to build that up. It's a community support thing. I think I see it as more of a civic thing."

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.