Sing live with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Good Friday - By Elizabeth Richards

On Good Friday, March 25^th, 2016, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is inviting the whole world to sing along with them as they perform Handel’s “Messiah” in its entirety. Their performance will be streamed live via the Internet, and wherever people are, they’re invited to join in.

In a news release, the choir’s president, Ron Jarrett, said “We have heard from people in several countries who are organizing events. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ with all the Christians of the world.” 

One such event is planned at the local LDS Chapel at 755 River Road in Windham. Members of the community are invited, free of charge, to attend and participate in the event. The live stream will be shown on a large screen, and printed lyrics will be provided.

Bishop Glenn Davis of the Windham Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said that while the church offers many events, this one seemed like it might appeal to the community. “Everyone’s heard of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir,” he said. This event is one more way to come together and celebrate the Easter season.

Davis said this is the first time the choir has done a worldwide broadcast of this type. The church has a direct satellite link, and the capacity to hold approximately 200 people. Davis said the event at the church is a resource to help people enjoy the tradition of singing the Messiah. “It’s almost like midnight mass in a way,” he said. “There’s a worldwide tradition of people singing the Messiah.”

The live broadcast takes place at 7:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, meaning the event in Windham will happen at 9:30 p.m. Though Davis said that may be a little late in the evening for some, the unique opportunity to perform live with the choir outweighed the desire for an earlier event, and they decided to go with the live stream. 

Those who prefer to stay in can also participate from the comfort of their own home, as long as an Internet connection is available. A PDF of the lyrics and program can be downloaded from the choir’s website at www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/messiah. The concert will also be available for on-demand viewing on the choir’s website and YouTube channel through April 4, 2016. During and after the experience, participants can interact with others via social media using #MessiahLive.