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Reserve Your Tickets Today!

Don’t miss this special event—grab your seats now! 

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Annual Handel's Messiah Sing-Along Concert

Hallelujah! Tiffany meets Handel!

You're Invited!

Lift your voice and be part of this joyful holiday tradition, sharing the magic of music this season! 


Saturday, December 13, 2025 • 4:00 PM

Sunday, December 14, 2025 • 4:00 PM


Celebrate the season with Handel’s inspiring Messiah surrounded by the glow of candlelight and Calvary’s magnificent Tiffany stained-glass masterpieces. Now in its 13th year, this beloved Calvary tradition is a family-friendly, interactive concert that draws audiences from across the region.


What to Expect

  • Professional Soloists: Anna Singer (soprano), Kara Cornell (mezzo-soprano), Kirk Dougherty (tenor), Matthew Hunt (baritone)
  • Festival Choir & Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Brian Burns
  • Performances on Calvary’s historic 1895 Farrand & Votey organ
  • A sing-along experience—join in on eight choruses (optional, but encouraged!)
  • Family-friendly: each child 10 & under receives a special activity pack
  • Reception: enjoy cookies and fellowship in our Victorian Chapel following the concert


More than Music

Our Festival Choir has twice been invited by Distinguished Concerts International New York to sing Messiah at Carnegie Hall—most recently in 2023. This recognition reflects the dedication and talent of our choir and musicians since the concert began in 2011.


Each year, the event also supports Northside outreach ministries. Audience members are invited to bring toilet paper, paper towels, or tote bags for the Northside Common Ministries Food Pantry. Complimentary tickets are shared with neighborhood schools, smaller churches, and community organizations.

Come Sing with Us!

Sing with us this holiday season! Join Calvary’s Festival Choir for our 13th annual Messiah concert and be part of a joyful, welcoming community! Experience Handel’s timeless masterpiece by candlelight and Calvary’s stunning Tiffany stained glass. Sing alongside professional soloists and our orchestra, and lead the audience in eight festive sing-along choruses. No auditions needed, and singers of all voice parts and experience levels are welcome. Celebrate the season, connect with fellow music lovers, and share your voice!


Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings from 7:30-9:00 PM beginning the first Tuesday in October thru the concerts in December in the Calvary Sanctuary.

Sponsorship & Program Ad Opportunities

Please review our sponsorship packages and explore additional ways to partner with us in supporting this one-of-a-kind community Christmas concert. Your sponsorship helps sustain this cherished Pittsburgh tradition. To learn more about our church and programs, visit our website or connect with us on Facebook at Calvary United Methodist Church, Pittsburgh.


We sincerely thank you for your support.

Ticket Pricing

General Admission

20

Student or Senior (65+)

15

Free Admission

0

Children 10 & under

Scores

15

Scores can be purchased online, allowing you to follow the soloists and sing along during the choruses. Purchased scores can be picked up at the box office's will-call. A limited number of scores are also available to borrow at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meet the Soloists

Anna Singer

Kirk Dougherty

Kara Cornell

Anna Singer, soprano, appeared with Palm Beach Opera Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall and as soprano soloist in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 throughout Europe, most recently in Lisbon with the Orquestra Sinfonica Portugesa. Ms. Singer made her Carnegie Hall main stage debut with Manhattan Philharmonic. She has sung with New York City Opera, P

Anna Singer, soprano, appeared with Palm Beach Opera Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall and as soprano soloist in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 throughout Europe, most recently in Lisbon with the Orquestra Sinfonica Portugesa. Ms. Singer made her Carnegie Hall main stage debut with Manhattan Philharmonic. She has sung with New York City Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and the opera companies of Cleveland, Los Angeles, Palm Beach, and Fort Worth, among others. Her many roles with Opera Theater of Pittsburgh include her acclaimed SummerFest performances as Hannah in The Merry Widow and Desiree Armfeldt in A Little Night Music. Anna has sung leads in such operas as Tosca, Salome, Aida, Susannah, Il Trovatore, La Traviata, La Boheme, Le Nozze di Figaro, Lohengrin, Die Walkure, and Die Fledermaus, among others. For Microscopic Opera, she recently performed the role of Madame Lisette in Therese Racquin, among others. Anna made her Carnegie Hall recital debut as a result of her first prize-winning at the Center for Contemporary Opera Vocal Competition. She was awarded First Prize at the Palm Beach Opera Competition, the Dicapo Opera Theatre Vocal Competition, among many others. Heard on air as mid-day host on WQED-FM, Anna is soprano soloist for The Presbyterian Church, Sewickley.

Kara Cornell

Kirk Dougherty

Kara Cornell

 New York native and Pittsburgh resident Kara Cornell, mezzo-soprano, is a versatile performer who is known as "a singer who can balance impeccable production and phrasing with enthusiastic and colorful dramatics." (Berkshire Review for the Arts) Her expressive portrayal of roles and clear English diction has hailed her "accomplished and 

 New York native and Pittsburgh resident Kara Cornell, mezzo-soprano, is a versatile performer who is known as "a singer who can balance impeccable production and phrasing with enthusiastic and colorful dramatics." (Berkshire Review for the Arts) Her expressive portrayal of roles and clear English diction has hailed her "accomplished and electrifying" (Opera Insider) with roles ranging from a "totally endearing" Cinderella (St. Petersburg Times) to a "seductive, wounded, damaged and dangerous" Carmen (The Troy Record). Nationally, Kara has recently performed leading operatic and musical theater roles with Union Avenue Opera (St. Louis), Winter Opera St Louis, Opera Fayetteville (AR) St. Petersburg Opera (FL), Utah Festival Opera and in New York State with Opera Saratoga, Center for Contemporary Opera, Opera Ithaca, Smithtown Theater for the Performing Arts, Upstate Chamber Opera, Hubbard Hall Opera Theater, Mosaic-Arts, Stony Brook Opera, The Madison Theater and Long Island Opera.

Locally, Kara has performed as a mainstage artist with Pittsburgh Festival Opera (Orfeus and Euridice, Carmen the Gypsy, Shining Brow), Pittsburgh Opera (Little Women), Resonance Works (The Bernstein Project, Evidence of Things Not Seen, Falstaff), Nat28 New Music, The Butler Symphony, and was soloist for the premiere and recording of the Pittsburgh Camerata commission of Nancy Galbraith's Sacred Songs and Interludes. In addition to her stage and solo concert performing, Kara is a voice teacher in CMU's drama pre-college program, Seton Hill University, Washington & Jefferson College, and maintains a private studio from her home near Aspinwall.

Kirk Dougherty

Kirk Dougherty

Kirk Dougherty

This season, Kirk Dougherty, tenor, performs as Leicester in Maria Stuarda with Piedmont Opera, as Alfredo in La traviata with Opera Southwest, and as the title role in Les contes d'Hoffmann with Opera Delaware where he will also appear as a soloist in their Winter Opera Jukebox concert. Last season, Mr. Dougherty performed the role of Ro

This season, Kirk Dougherty, tenor, performs as Leicester in Maria Stuarda with Piedmont Opera, as Alfredo in La traviata with Opera Southwest, and as the title role in Les contes d'Hoffmann with Opera Delaware where he will also appear as a soloist in their Winter Opera Jukebox concert. Last season, Mr. Dougherty performed the role of Rodolfo in La bohème with Salt Marsh Opera; Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with Knoxville Opera; Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Raylynmor Opera; and Cavaradossi in a concert production of Tosca with Helena Symphony and in full production with NJ Festival Orchestra. He also performed the tenor solo in Verdi’s Requiem with Allentown Symphony, performed as a soloist in concert with Opera Delaware, sang the role of Cavaradossi/Rodolfo in “Puccini at the Pendry” concert with Maryland Opera, and Handel’s Messiah with National Chorale.


Other recent engagements include the role of Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto with Opera Las Vegas, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Bob Jones University, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with Glacier Symphony as part of their Festival Amadeus, Mozart’s Solemn Vespers for MidAmerica Productions at Carnegie Hall, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicci/Buoso’s Ghost with Opera Delaware, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Rodolfo in La bohème and the tenor solo in Stabat Mater with Wichita Grand Opera, Nikolaus Sprink in Silent Night with Piedmont Opera, and Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia with the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre. Other recent appearances included a return to Anchorage Opera as Don José in Carmen and Verdi’s Requiem with the New Jersey Choral Society.


Mr. Dougherty made his Opera San José début as the Duke in Rigoletto, and later returned to the house as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, his role début of Cavaradossi in Tosca, and the role of Don José in Carmen. Additionally, Kirk performed the role Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly for Anchorage Opera. Previous seasons include his company débuts with Sarasota Opera in the role of Manrico in Il Trovatore, the American Symphony Orchestra portraying Aaron in Bruch's oratorio Moses at Carnegie Hall, the Glacier Symphony performing Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, Salt Marsh Opera as Ernesto in Don Pasquale, and the title role in Faust for Opera Louisiane.

Matthew Hunt

Kirk Dougherty

Kirk Dougherty

Matthew Hunt, baritone, has performed with vocal ensembles in the United States, England, and Italy, with a focus on oratorio works. In addition to performing as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Matthew’s oratorio credits include Lucifero in Alessandro Stradella’s Esule dalle Sfere, Pilatus in Bach's St. John Passion, and Lucifero in Handel

Matthew Hunt, baritone, has performed with vocal ensembles in the United States, England, and Italy, with a focus on oratorio works. In addition to performing as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Matthew’s oratorio credits include Lucifero in Alessandro Stradella’s Esule dalle Sfere, Pilatus in Bach's St. John Passion, and Lucifero in Handel's La Resurrezione. In Pittsburgh, he has been the baritone soloist in various oratorio and cantata productions including the Mozart Requiem and Carmina Burana. He performed the role of Le Surintendant in the 2015 Resonance Works production of Cendrillon and also performed in the 2016 production of Falstaff and the 2014 production of L'elisir d'amore. As a member of the professional core of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh he performed as a soloist in Giacomo Carissimi's Jephte, Beethoven's Mass in C, Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, and Durufle's Requiem.


Calvary United Methodist Church

971 Beech Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233

412-231-2007  |  CalvaryPgh@gmail.com


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