After conducting more than 40 performances of Handel’s “Messiah” in the Monadnock region and a 10-year retirement hiatus, David Brandes, Franklin Pierce University faculty emeritus, will return to the Peterborough Messiah Festival to conduct this year’s final piece, the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

The festival is Saturday, Dec. 7, 4 p.m. at the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church, 25 Main St. Community singers interested in joining the festival can come to the 1 p.m. rehearsal.

Brandes started the Monadnock-area Messiah tradition in 1973 at St. Patrick Church in Jaffrey. The choir was composed of singers from the Franklin Pierce University Choral Union and volunteer singers from the Monadnock region. They rehearsed on Monday evenings at the university. The concert became a holiday tradition on the first Saturday of December and continues to the present day.

The 1973 performance included six string players, two trumpeters, a harpsichord, about 75 choir members and four professional vocal soloists. In 1983, the orchestra, primarily professional musicians, had grown to 28 players, the chorus to 125 singers and the audience to standing-room-only. The Jaffrey police and fire departments determined that St. Patrick Church could no longer safely hold the concert.

In 1984, the concert was moved to the Franklin Pierce campus Fieldhouse. That year, Brandes came up with an idea he called a one-day “Messiah Marathon.” Rather than rehearse weekly on Monday evenings, anyone who wished to sing in the chorus could show up for afternoon rehearsals and sing in the evening public performance at 8 p.m.

The schedule started with professionally directed sectional rehearsals around campus, while Brandes rehearsed with the orchestra and soloists in the Fieldhouse. The chorus then came to the Fieldhouse to rehearse together with soloists and the orchestra under Brandes’ baton. Rehearsal was followed by an optional dinner in the university dining hall and finally the evening performance.

The new space allowed for growth of the chorus, orchestra and audience. By the time Brandes retired in 2015, the chorus had reached more than 300 singers, the orchestra about 40 players, and the performance attracted an audience that filled the Fieldhouse.

A central core of singers and orchestra players returned year after year, and Brandes recalled that “it was great fun seeing old friends reunited and enjoying the opportunity to share the stage with such fine soloists and a great orchestra.”

Following Brandes’ retirement and move to Maine, there was no Messiah Festival for a few years until Hancock residents Margaret and Jack Carlsen resurrected the tradition, managing and sponsoring the event. It was held in the Union Congregational Church in Peterborough before moving to its current home at the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church. This year marks the 12th year the UU church has hosted the festival.

On Saturday, led by conductor James Sharrock, the Apple Hill String Quartet will accompany the community chorus and soloists performing the Christmas section of the Messiah score. Trumpeter Sheldon Ross will perform the aria “The Trumpet Shall Sound” with bass Nick Tocci. Other vocal soloists are Jennifer Bates (soprano), Pamela Stevens (alto), and Matthew McGinnis (tenor). Colby Baker will play the organ.

Brandes will conclude the program with the “Hallelujah Chorus,” with audience participation welcomed.

The 70-minute concert is free, with donations appreciated. Contact friendsofmessiahptbo@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/MessiahPbro.