Strake Vocalists Shine In 'Messiah'

The Strake Jesuit/St. Agnes mixed chorus has performed a rendition of Messiah for more than 20 years. 

For veterans of the annual show and first-time attendants alike, the magic of Handel’s Messiah is undeniable. For over 20 years, the Strake Jesuit/St. Agnes mixed chorus has performed a rendition of the famous production - and, just as has been the case each and every year, the 2016 show was a resounding success. Spearheaded by a large group of hardworking seniors including Matthew Wong and Ethan Lambright, the choir took a difficult program by the horns and delivered a show to be proud of, one that attracted friends, family and music enthusiasts of all ages from throughout the Houston area.

As someone who had the opportunity to assist with the show’s preparation, I can firmly state that Messiah is the most complex high school production I’ve ever witnessed. From props to costumes to a ludicrous number of flowers, the puzzle pieces are both numerous and complex. The spectacle of it all, though, is always well worth the effort. Consisting of a predominately lighthearted first half that features a plethora of holiday favorites followed by a meatier, more serious second measure, Messiah is a production of epic proportions that only gets better with subsequent viewings. 

Seniors Blake Bartlett, Elizabeth Callegari, Olivia Anne Villarreal, Lea Greteman, Sean Hart, and Jonathan Nguyen (laying down) celebrate the conclusion of their final "Messiah" production.

Personally, my favorite part of the show is and has always been the solos. The opportunity for individual vocalists to show off their talents and styles is a real treat, and it’s always interesting to see new faces in the solo positions each year. Junior Will Othon kicked things off with the production’s first solo, later to be followed by dozens of immensely talented Strake and St. Agnes students. Nerve-wracking as they may be, solos are highly coveted by members of the choir and considered great honors - personally, singing in front of a couple hundred people (much less doing so alone) doesn’t sound like my idea of a good time, but that only increases my respect for those willing.

For the performers themselves, far more goes into the production than just standing on stage for a few hours and singing some songs. For one thing, the standing is difficult in itself, and was almost always the first thing members of the choir mentioned when asked about potential hardships. However, even once the burn of endless standing becomes more bearable, the difficulty of the material, especially in Messiah’s solemn second half, presents challenges for even the most seasoned vocalists. And, of course, with great difficulty comes great time commitment - members of the chorus spent a huge chunk of the semester tirelessly working to produce the best show possible. Preparation for Messiah proved to be a long and arduous process that resulted in many a late night, but no one would have it any other way.