Community singers perform the Christmas section of Handel's "Messiah" on Dec. 6 in the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church. Left to right: backrow: Bill Schofield, Mike Gordon, Bill Mitchell, Dick Ernst, Joy Flemming front row: David Flemming, Walden Whitman, Laurie Lewis, Tori Haring Smith, Mary Ellen Bushnell
Community singers perform the Christmas section of Handel's "Messiah" on Dec. 6 in the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church. Left to right: backrow: Bill Schofield, Mike Gordon, Bill Mitchell, Dick Ernst, Joy Flemming front row: David Flemming, Walden Whitman, Laurie Lewis, Tori Haring Smith, Mary Ellen Bushnell Credit: SCOTT MCGOVERN / Courtesy

On Saturday, 84 community singers gathered at the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church to perform the Christmas section of Handelโ€™s “Messiah” under the direction of James Sharrock.

Vocal soloists Brittney Redler, Pamela Stevens, Kirk Bobkowski and Nick Tocci joined the Apple Hill String Quartet, organist Peter Sykes and trumpeter Sheldon Ross in the church balcony. For many, this annual event marks the start of the Christmas season.

The program concluded with the โ€œHallelujahโ€ chorus, when the audience rose and sang along with the chorus and instrumentalists.


Community singers perform the Christmas section of Handel's "Messiah" on Dec. 6 in the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church. Left to right, back row: DIck Ernst, Joy Flemming, Jackie Brittain. Front row: Tori Haring-Smith, Maryellen Bushnell, Cathy George, Jody Simpson
Community singers perform the Christmas section of Handel’s “Messiah” on Dec. 6 in the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church. Left to right, back row: DIck Ernst, Joy Flemming, Jackie Brittain. Front row: Tori Haring-Smith, Maryellen Bushnell, Cathy George, Jody Simpson Credit: SCOTT MCGOVERN / Courtesy