It’s that time of the year again for George F. Handel’s “Messiah” Marshalltown’s premier community musical performance which is a 63 year tradition for central Iowans. The chorus is made up of young and old singers from a diverse sampling of local church members and music enthusiasts. Each year brings stories of singers traveling from far and near to be a part of this holiday tradition. Every year there are new faces as well as old. Stefan Peng is one of the Marshalltown High School students singing in the Messiah this year. Peng who is a member of the High School Concert Choir and National Anthem Singers is singing in the Messiah for his first time and expressed, “It’s different and fun to sing next to veteran singers.” Among the veteran singers are Ray Mitchum and Marshall Mussig who have sung in the “Messiah” for over 50 years. Marshall sang the “Messiah” all four years as a student at Iowa State beginning in 1957. A farmer by trade the “Messiah” has been an integral part of his family’s holiday tradition. His son, Chad Mussig has greatly contributed to the performance as the organist for almost two decades. Ray Mitchum has sung in the Marshalltown “Messiah” every year since 1963 except for one year when he was in the Service, and he has saved every program since 1983. Eighty seven year old Venita Connley might have the most seniority of this year’s chorus but you’d never know it to look at her. A country school teacher at the age of 17 during WWII who later served as an executive director of the Marshall County Red Cross and who still keeps busy painting and writing poetry first sang in the Marshalltown “Messiah” in 1955 and has sung with the group most years since then. The soloists this year are a group of singers who have made the “Messiah” their holiday tradition as well. Soloists will be sopranos: Brianna Yates, and Laura Stansberry; alto: Bridget Kern; tenor: Mike Miltenberger; and bass: Ben Stansberry. Brianna Yates of Marshalltown is performing soprano solos for her fifth time this year. She will be performing the soprano recitatives “There were shepherds abiding in the field.”, “And the angel said unto them”, and “And suddenly there was with the angel,” along with the soprano air, “Come unto Him.” Yates has a Bachelor of Music Education from Iowa State University and currently works at Marshalltown High School as a special education teacher. She is involved with a variety of musical endeavors along with the Marshalltown Community Theatre and the Orpheum. To Brianna, “The ‘Messiah’ is a wonderful time to bring people together with an amazing piece of music that millions of people have enjoyed over the years.” Laura Stansberry will perform for her fifth year the soprano air “I know that my Redeemer liveth” along with the alto air, “He shall feed His flock.” Laura currently works as a second grade teacher at Franklin Elementary and is also involved in the Marshalltown Community Theatre. While attending Simpson College she was a member of the Simpson College Madrigal Singers and Choir. She encourages the community to attend the performance stating, “It is a wonderful chance to reflect on the season.” Bridget Kern of Albion will present solos for her eleventh year in Marshalltown, This year she will sing the alto recitative “Behold, a virgin shall conceive” and alto airs “O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion” and “He was despised.” Kern graduated from Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska with a BS in math and art education and was a member of the “Unionaires” singing group. Kern currently works as a math teacher for the Marshalltown High School and has served for 15 years as Publicity Coordinator for the annual “Messiah” presentation. Kern is grateful that Marshalltown offers the “Messiah,” saying, “Large cities across the globe will be performing Handel’s “Messiah” this Christmas season along with our small town which boasts a rich heritage of sharing this timeless masterpiece with our community!” Mike Miltenberger of Marshalltown has been the opening soloist for the “Messiah” for over 20 years. He will again present the tenor recitative “Comfort ye my people” and the tenor air “Every valley.” Miltenberger is retired and moved to Des Moines but returns to Marshalltown to be a part of the “Messiah.” He has been involved in many musical activities including the Marshalltown Follies and Gala and the Southern Gospel quartet, “Press On.” “It is because of my belief in Christ that the “Messiah” is important to me.” Expresses Miltenberger, “The music is glorious. As a singer you get to experience the complexities and as a listener you take in the whole blend of each of the movements climaxing in the Hallelujah Chorus and with the final confirmation of Worthy is the Lamb.” Ben Stansberry of Marshalltown is performing bass solos for his fourth year with the Marshalltown “Messiah”. He will be singing the bass recitatives “Thus saith the Lord”, and “Behold I Tell You a Mystery” and bass airs “But who may abide the day of His coming?” and “The Trumpet Shall Sound,” with Jason Kirke providing the trumpet solo complement. An attorney by profession, Stansberry has a history of musical endeavors. After graduating from MHS in 1995, he went on to Simpson College where he was a member of the Madrigal Singers and participated in numerous operas. Since then he has sung with the Syracuse University Opera Workshop, the Des Moines Metro Opera, and the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble. Stansberry encourages the community to experience the “Messiah,” “It’s the premier community musical performance. The music is some the finest ever written, the performers are outstanding, and the whole experience is a lot of fun!” The Central Iowa Community presentation of Handel’s “Messiah” on December 6, will begin with prelude music by the “Fifth of Brass” at 6:15 p.m., a congregational Christmas carol sing led by Mary Cowdrey at 6:45 p.m., and the “Messiah” performance at 7:00 p.m. The performance at First United Methodist Church is free to the public. A free will offering will be taken to defray expenses.