Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of singing Handel’s Messiah with approximately 120 choristers, an orchestra, and four incredible professionals who served as our soloists. I’ve done this every year since 2015, although this choir has a much longer stretch. In fact, we have the longest stretch in the whole world; our choir has sung Handel’s Messiah annually since 1879. We hold the record.
Over the next three days, I’m going to share some posts in reflection from this piece and from this experience. I want to begin here: On the evening of our first rehearsal, the choir was gathered in a room together, where we warm up and line up to walk on stage. In a few minutes, we would stand in front of 2,500 people to share these texts and deliver this story in song.
Our conductor said that earlier this year, he heard another conductor share a statement that he tells his choruses before performances. It touched him so much that he thinks of it each time too.
“You never know when you’re going to change a life. You never know when you’re going to save a life.”
And so I offer that to you today as well. In all our collective acting and living — not only in our performing, but also in our learning, loving, sharing, advocating, and simply being ourselves with one another —
“You never know when you’re going to change a life. You never know when you’re going to save a life.”
This brings a sense of awe. I also hope it brings a sense of empowerment.
—Renee Roederer
Smuggling Grace 