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42nd annual Do-It-Yourself Messiah tickets on sale Nov. 15

The 42nd annual performances of the International Music Foundation's Do-It-Yourself Messiah take place at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park on Monday, Dec. 18, and Tuesday, Dec. 19.

Tickets for the event go on sale at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 15. In years past, tickets have sold out in just a few days. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online at www.harristheaterchicago.org, at the Harris Theater box office located at 205 E. Randolph, or by phone at (312) 334-7777.

"The 'Do-It-Yourself Messiah 'is a beloved holiday tradition for so many families throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond," said Mark Riggleman, the newly appointed executive director of the International Music Foundation, who was formerly the director of education at Lyric Opera of Chicago.

"People have told us that they attended their first 'Do-It-Yourself Messiah' as children, and they are now bringing their own children to experience it," he adds. "It's wonderful to see families from different races, religions and cultural backgrounds coming together and celebrating the season singing Messiah," he adds.

The Do-It-Yourself holiday concert offers a rare opportunity for the audience to perform as the choir in George Frederic Handel's masterpiece, Messiah. Accompanied by a volunteer orchestra and a world-renowned conductor and soloists, the multi-generational audience is seated according to voice range: soprano, alto, tenor or bass.

The four professional soloists include Naperville resident soprano Michelle Areyzaga, Chicago-based countertenor Ryan Belongie, Juno Award-winning tenor John Tessier, and bass-baritone Darren K. Stokes, an alumnus of the distinguished Ryan Opera Center of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Acclaimed Maestro Stanley Sperber, who travels from his home in Israel each year to be part of Messiah, will once again conduct.

Performances of the Do-It-Yourself Messiah begin at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18 and Tuesday, Dec. 19.

Patrons may take their seats in the theater beginning at 6:15 p.m. The Messiah performance lasts approximately two and a half hours and is filled with cheer, lots of smiles and laughter, and camaraderie as everyone rejoices in song! Attendees are asked to bring a copy of the Messiah score, or scores can be purchased in the lobby of the Harris Theater for $10.

The Do-It-Yourself Messiah is made possible through generous lead sponsorship from Wintrust Financial Corporation, and additional sponsorships from Performance Trust Companies and an anonymous donor. For more information about the performances, please visit the International Music Foundation website at www.imfchicago.org.

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