FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News media contact
Joey Burdette
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The Winston-Salem Symphony and Chorus Present
Handel’s Messiah on December 13
Maestro Robert Moody returns to conduct
WINSTON-SALEM, NC (DECEMBER 1, 2022) – Former Winston-Salem Symphony Music Director Robert Moody returns to conduct the 16th annual performance of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah on Tuesday, December 13, at Wait Chapel on the campus of Wake Forest University. This musical work is one of the most celebrated oratorios of all time, beloved for its beauty, drama, and famous “Hallelujah” chorus. This Christmastime tradition is a spiritual experience perfect for the height of the holiday season.
The concert will occur at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at Wait Chapel, 1834 Wake Forest Road, on Wake Forest University’s campus. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling the Box Office at (336) 464-0145.
The Winston-Salem Symphony performances of the Messiah will feature guest singers Kathryn Mueller, soprano; Taylor Raven, mezzo-soprano; Aaron Crouch, tenor; and Troy Cook, baritone; as well as members of the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus. The concert’s guest artists are sponsored by Salemtowne.
About the Soloists
Grammy-nominated soprano Kathryn Mueller returns to Winston-Salem for another performance of Messiah. Her soprano registers, with a crystalline sound, personal warmth, and musicianship, are well-regarded across the country. Her wide-ranging repertoire includes period baroque performances to premieres of new works.
Mezzo-soprano Taylor Raven was called a “vocal sensation” by the Washington Classical Review. After graduating from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she went on to perform with symphonies in Dallas, Baltimore, Iowa, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Raven has graced the stages of the Houston Grand Opera, Washington Concert Opera, and Wolf Trap Opera, among others.
Aaron Crouch is a tenor that the Huffington Post described as “riveting vocally and as an actor.” He grew up in Bowie, Maryland, before attending the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Crouch has performed across the country with operas in Houston, Washington, Philadelphia, Tulsa, Pittsburgh, and with Caramoor Festival.
Praised for his “technically flawless performance” by Opera News, American baritone Troy Cook has been heralded throughout his career for his vocal suaveness and vibrant stage presence. Cook has performed in Handel’s Messiah across the nation, including productions in Winston-Salem.
About Robert Moody
Audiences will recognize Robert Moody from his 13-year tenure as the Winston-Salem Symphony Music Director from 2005 to 2018. He has helmed the Memphis Symphony Orchestra since 2016 and has served as the Music Director of Arizona Musicfest since 2007.
During Moody’s tenure, the Symphony celebrated many significant achievements, including the addition of a Pops Series, later augmented by the addition of A Carolina Christmas, the creation of what is now known as the Ignite Family Series, and the addition of a full-time Assistant Conductor position to the artistic staff. Moody oversaw the creation of the Concert for Community, a side-by-side playing experience for members of the Youth Symphony (the most advanced Youth Orchestras Program ensemble) and the professional musicians of the Winston-Salem Symphony that also features the annual Peter Perret Youth Talent Search Competition winners as featured guest soloists. But Moody’s passion was always evident in the performances of Handel’s Messiah, which he calls “a musical masterpiece that I look forward to conducting each holiday season.”
About the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus
The Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus is an auditioned mixed ensemble made up of volunteer singers, many of whom are professional soloists or current members of area church and university choruses. Dr. Christopher Gilliam directs it. The Symphony Chorus rehearses weekly and performs several times yearly with the Winston-Salem Symphony. For more information, visit wssymphony.org/about/chorus/.
About the Winston-Salem Symphony
Proud to be one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras, the Winston-Salem Symphony will celebrate its 75th Anniversary across 2022. The Symphony inspires listeners of all ages throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad with various concerts, education programs, and community engagement initiatives each year.
The Symphony is supported by Season Presenting Sponsors Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A.; 2022 Classics SeriesGuest Artist Sponsors Salemtowne; 75th Anniversary Gala Diamond Sponsors Chris and Mike Morykwas; the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, the North Carolina Arts Council, and other dedicated sponsors. Subscriptions and single tickets can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145.
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