Coming this Month!
Preview: Music City Oratorio Festival Brings Handel’s Messiah to Life — Nashville Style
Nashville, TN — Early Music City invites singers and music lovers to take part in the 2025 Music City Oratorio Festival, a two-day celebration of choral artistry and community music-making centered on Handel’s Messiah. The festival will be held November 15–16 at Tennessee State University and Christ Church Cathedral.
Inspired by the great oratorio festivals of New York, Dublin, Halle, and London, the event blends performance, education, and fellowship “in the Nashville way.” Participants can expect clinics, discussions, and performances designed to deepen understanding of Handel’s masterpiece and the traditions that surround it.
Saturday’s sessions at TSU’s Performing Arts Center include sectional clinics, a Lunch-and-Learn panel on Messiah and early music traditions, and an evening concert featuring Nashville’s emerging collegiate ensembles. The festival culminates Sunday, November 16, with the Messiah Sing-Along at Christ Church Cathedral (3:00 p.m.), presented in partnership with the cathedral and Early Music City.
This year’s festival will be led by Dr. Marques Jerrell Ruff — conductor, bass-baritone, and educator at Arkansas State University — joined by the W. Crimm Singers and the instrumentalists of Early Music City. Soloists include Siren Hightower (soprano), Nicole Simone (mezzo-soprano), Vincent Davis (tenor), and Allen J. Christian (bass-baritone).
The Music City Oratorio Festival expands on the traditional sing-along model by incorporating preparation, coaching, and dialogue — inviting everyone from first-time singers to seasoned choristers to engage deeply with Messiah. The event also highlights Nashville’s diverse musical heritage, blending historically informed performance with gospel and Americana traditions.
Registration ranges from $20–$40, with options including lunch and music scores.
More information and registration: earlymusiccity.org
Press Contact:
Patrick Dailey
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director, Early Music City
📧 [email protected] | 📞 (615) 430-0214
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