The Hastings College Music Department will present G. F. Handel’s Messiah for the 24th time Sunday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m., in Lynn Farrell Arena, Osborne Family Sports Complex. The performance, part of the college’s 125th anniversary celebration, is free and the public is invited to attend.

Doors will open at 2 p.m.

The concert will be televised live on HCTV (Hastings Charter Cable channel 6), streamed live at www.hcworldnews.com., and aired on KFKX radio, 90.1 FM.   

The choir will include more than 350 alumni, students, faculty and staff, and community and area residents. Students from Hastings High School, Adams Central High School and Scottsbluff High School will also perform with the ensemble. The Hastings Symphony Orchestra will accompany the group.

Hastings College professors Dr. Robin Koozer, Dr. Fritz Mountford, Dr. Byron Jensen, Dr. Marc LaChance, Dr. Charles Smith and Dr. Daniel Laing will serve as vocal and instrumental conductors. Laing will also perform on the trumpet.

Guest soloists include: Louie Eckhardt ’05, Pittsburgh, Pa., on the trumpet; and vocalists Thomas Poole, Washington, D.C.; Jessie LaBrie ‘99, Grand Island, Neb.; Betty Volenec ’68, New York City, N.Y.; Matthew Norwood ‘93, Denver, Colo.; Margaret Johnson Norwood ‘93, Denver, Colo.; Lacey Beemer Franzen ’03, Crete Neb.; Jamie Call Reimer ’00, Omaha, Neb.; Maggie Koozer ’06, Hartford, Conn.; Linda Johnson ’77, Hastings, Neb.; and Kyle Sandall ’07, Hastings, Neb.

Guest conductors include: Linn Warren ’82, Hastings, Minn.; Mark Harman ’99, Fremont, Neb.; Dan Hutsel ’04, Blair, Neb.; Jennifer Bates-Orvis ’97, Plattsmouth, Neb.; Brad Ronne ’94, Scottsbluff, Neb.; and Donald Reimer ’73, Bellevue, Neb.

  Hastings College first presented the Messiah in 1928 under the direction of Dr. Hayes M. Fuhr. The last performance was in 2004.

                                                                          -30-