KNHP sponsors Messiah Sing-Along at Calumet Theatre The historic Calumet Theatre hosts a different kind of Christmas affair this coming weekend. The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra, directed by Milt Olsson, will accompany a sing-along of Handel’Äôs Messiah at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17. The Keweenaw National Historical Park is sponsoring the event. Milton Olsson This is the first annual community sing-along event done by Olsson and the orchestra. He said the sing-along will call for a directing approach different from the way he would direct a chorus with similar experience. "At this point the audience is the performance," Olsson explained. "It’Äôs not a concert. It’Äôs everyone enjoying the music together. Sometimes it’Äôll sound great, sometimes not too great; but it really doesn’Äôt matter." Calumet Theatre Director Dick Hazzard said about 50 to 60 members of the Michigan Tech Concert Choir will be singing to help the audience. He and his wife, Laurie Hazzard, are members of the choir and participated in last Sunday’Äôs performance of excerpts from the Messiah and the premiere of Olsson’Äôs Mass, sung by the Concert Choir accompanied by the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra in Michigan Tech’Äôs Rozsa Center. Hazzard noted the Calumet Theatre sing-along will be a different arrangement. Dick Hazzard "The Concert Choir will be seated at the back of the main floor. It’Äôs almost hard not to sing it when you’Äôre in that situation, but if people don’Äôt want to sing they’Äôre welcome to come and listen," he said. "The concept of the Messiah sing-along is quite a popular event. Many communities do this annually. It gives people a chance to come out and participate and gives them the Christmas spirit." While participants are encouraged to bring their own music if they have it, Hazzard said he has about 200 copies of the music people can borrow. The concert is not expected to last more than 90 minutes, he noted. Afterwards, refreshments will be served in the theatre ballroom. Frank Fiala The event was the notion of KNHP supervisor Frank Fiala. He said that the idea came with him when he moved to the Keweenaw a while ago. "Seven years ago when we lived in Alaska, a small number of folks got together in a church for a Messiah sing-along," Fiala said. Fiala said he remembered visiting the Calumet Theater for the fist time and thinking, "What a wonderful place for a sing-along." Both Fiala and Hazzard said they would like to make the sing-along an annual event. Added Fiala, "It’Äôs an opportunity for the community to come together ’Äì those who like to sing, or just listen. I hope that people can look forward to doing this each and every year. It’Äôs a wonderful event." Thanks to the KNHP sponsorship, admission is free with any non-perishable food item. Boxes in the back of the theatre will be available for collecting the food donations. As a holiday idea of the Park and Calumet Theatre, the food will then be donated to local charities in need, such as The Salvation Army, Little Brothers or Little Sisters. Call the Calumet Theatre at 337-2610 for more information. - Jennifer Drewyor December 13, 2000