Local Artist Preforms in 38th Annual Do-It-Yourself Messiah

Sweetly soaring, angel-voiced and radiant are all descriptions critics have used to describe Naperville native and coveted singer, Michelle Areyzaga. The much-in-demand soprano will be one of four professional soloists preforming in the Do-It-Yourself Messiah on Thursday, December 19, and Friday, December 20 at the Harris Theater in Chicago. Presented by the International Music Foundation, this beloved holiday tradition offers audience members a unique opportunity to participate in the performance as the choir in George Frederic Handel’s masterpiece, Messiah.

“This is the first time I will be performing the Messiah with Maestro Stanley Sperber and with the audience as part of the act.  This is such an important holiday tradition and I’m honored to share in the magic of community lifting their voices in celebration of the season,” said Soprano Michelle Areyzaga.

Michelle Areyzaga received her B.A. in Vocal Performance from Roosevelt University with honors and was a member of the Ravinia Festival Steans Music Institute . She has sung most recently with New York City Opera in her debut (Orpheus-Telemann) and has appeared with Chicago Opera Theater, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s ‘In the Neighborhoods’ program and Grant Park Music Festival. When she is not preforming, Michelle is on the voice faculty at Aurora University and at the School of Performing Arts in Naperville. She also maintains a private studio in cooperation with Metea Valley High School in Aurora. 

Performances of the Do-It-Yourself Messiah will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 19 and Friday, December 20.  Patrons may take their seats in the theater, located at 205 E. Randolph, beginning at 6:15 p.m. The Messiah performance lasts approximately two and a half hours. For more information, visit the International Music Foundation website at www.imfchicago.org.

About

Do-It- Yourself Messiah

Composed in 1741 by George Frederic Handel, Messiah is a large-scale piece for orchestra, chorus and soloists. Originally intended as an Easter oratorio, it has become more popularly associated with the Christmas holiday season. A small church in rural England began the “do-it-yourself” part more than 40 years ago. Al Booth, founder of the International Music Foundation, was an early participant and brought the idea home to Chicago where he and Margaret Hillis, then director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, staged the first event in 1976.

International Music Foundation

The International Music Foundation (IMF) was founded in 1979 by Chicagoan Al Booth as the umbrella organization for two of his music projects: the Do-It-Yourself Messiah and the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert series, both now cornerstones of the Chicago musical scene. In 1981; with the help of Yehudi Menuhin, the IMF added Live Music Now!, a concert series for children in the Chicago Public Schools. For more information please visit, http://www.imfchicago.org.