The Worcester Chorus returns to Mechanics Hall for their annual performance of Handel’s Messiah on the first weekend of December. Directed by Chris Shepard, the Worcester Chorus is one of America’s oldest and longest-running choral ensembles. Attending this performance has become a holiday tradition for families and music lovers across the Greater Worcester community, drawing audiences who return year after year to experience this timeless work.
About Messiah
Handel composed Messiah to tell the story of Jesus Christ in three acts, alternating between recitatives, arias, and choruses. Originally written for Easter, it has since become a beloved Christmas tradition, recounting Christ’s life from birth through death and glory. Choirs around the world perform Messiah annually, either in its entirety or in selections such as the famous Hallelujah Chorus. Nearly 300 years old, this work continues to inspire audiences and stands as a central part of holiday celebrations.
Please note that program, venue, time, and performers are subject to change.
Meet the Performers
The Worcester Chorus, founded in 1858 to sing at the first Worcester Music Festival in Mechanics Hall, includes 100 singers from Worcester County, northern Connecticut, and the Boston area, combining both amateur and professional talent. Their repertoire spans classical choral masterpieces, contemporary works, American folk arrangements, musical theater, and commissioned compositions. Each year, the Chorus performs with orchestras and soloists at Mechanics Hall as part of Music Worcester’s main season, including Messiah. From the 2024-2025 season through March 2035, the Worcester Chorus will participate in The Complete Bach project. The ensemble has also appeared throughout the Northeast and overseas.
The Chorus has performed with the Hartford Symphony, American Symphony at Avery Fisher Hall, and the Prague Symphony at Carnegie Hall, as well as with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, and the symphonies of Boston, Baltimore, and Detroit.
Featured soloists include Robyn Marie Lamp, soprano, Ann McMahon Quintero, mezzo-soprano, Derrek Stark, tenor, and Edwin Jhamal Davis, bass. These accomplished artists join the Worcester Chorus under Chris Shepard’s direction to deliver a powerful and moving performance of this holiday masterpiece.
Audiences can experience this performance on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 8:00 pm at Mechanics Hall.
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