On December 1, 2019, the faculty and students of East China Theological College (ECTC) joined a large music concert of Handel's works.
According to ECTC, the performance of Handel's Advent choral and orchestral work Messiah was initiated by the Shanghai International Choral League at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center.
To prepare for the event, "Handel's Advent Choral and Orchestral Works", the students of the sacred music department of the Shanghai-based seminary began to learn the English lyrics and practice reading music at the end of September. In November they started to be involved in the weekly rehearsal hosted by the Shanghai League. Eventually, 47 students were admitted to the concert to perform along with more than 200 members of the the League from all over the world.
In the final rehearsal period, the famous choral conductor Jerry Blackstone interpreted Handel's work in terms of the piece's movement, harmonics and lyrical content. It helped them understand how to express the connotation of the lyrics and reflect on how to express the meaning via their voices.
This concert also commemorated the fourth anniversary of the death of Ma Geshun, the honorary chorus conductor and professor of ECTC.
