For a former Kinston singer, December still brings Handel’s Messiah to mind

After a recent concert in Charleston, South Carolina, cellist Barbara Krumdieck heard a familiar name from someone in the audience. The concertgoer used to live in Kinston and had sung Handel’s Messiah with the community chorus every December. They told Krumdieck how much they had missed it since moving away.

Krumdieck, the executive director of the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra, has played in Kinston’s annual performance for years. In a letter to Neuse News, she said she has met people elsewhere in the Southeast who still remember the Kinston concerts fondly.

“Not only does this music enhance the lives of the audience members, but it also brings joy and a sense of community to all of the participants in the choir and orchestra,” Krumdieck wrote.

The Kinston-Lenoir Community Chorus began presenting Messiah in 1998. Krumdieck said the committee works year-round to put on the concert and keep admission free.

This year, the orchestra will rejoin the chorus under the direction of Jane Cain. The performance will feature soloists Walter Swan, Deborah Nansteel, Mahari Freeman and Makudu Senaoana.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at First Presbyterian Church, 2101 N. Herritage St. in Kinston. Admission is free, donations are welcome and a nursery will be available.