Traci Tuimaseve and his sister Alieta Uelese, both from Flaxmere, have joined thousands around the world in singing Handel’s Messiah with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir via the internet this Easter season.
They are among those who accepted the Choir's invitation to participate in the first phase of the Easter Season event by uploading a video of themselves singing the Hallelujah Chorus, the centrepiece of Handel’s Messiah.
A video montage of submissions from around the world, blended with music from the choir and Orchestra from Temple Square, will be released on Monday 14 March. It can be viewed at virtualchoir.mormon.org.
“Participating with the Tabernacle Choir is exciting,” said Tuimaseve who started singing with his family when he and his sister were young.
“They have always inspired me. You definitely feel the Spirit when you hear them sing,” added Uelese.
Singing Messiah is familiar to them. “Our whole family has sung the Hallelujah Chorus many times over the years,” said Tuimaseve.
Tuimaseve and Uelese are well known in the Hastings area for their leadership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Flaxmere Stake Choir, which performs at multiple community and church events each year.
It’s more than the love of singing that inspired them to join the virtual choir.
“Although we love singing, there is a special feeling that comes when your motivation is to sing praises to the Saviour,” said Uelese.
When asked how they have the courage to post a video of themselves singing for all the world to see and hear, the explanation is simple.
“When we are singing songs of praise, then Heavenly Father blesses us with His Spirit to fill in any gaps in our performance.”
Soon after the montage of the Hallelujah Chorus is released, the main event takes place.
On Saturday, 26 March at 3:00 pm (NZDST) the choir will host Messiah Sing, which will allow accomplished and not so accomplished singers to sing the Messiah in its entirety along with the choir.
The choir will perform Messiah and stream it live across the world to individuals, families, choirs of all sizes, and congregations of worshipers of all faiths, who can join in from wherever they choose to meet.
Those that participate can sing-a-long (lyrics provided) or just enjoy the live stream as a concert.
The choir’s performance will include the seldom-heard Easter portion of Messiah. The Oratorio is most often associated with Christmas, but covers the complete life of Christ from birth to death and resurrection and includes what many consider the most glorious music of the whole piece, such as ‘Worthy is the Lamb’ and the ‘Amen Chorus’.
Participants in the Messiah Sing are invited to share photos during and after the event using hashtag #MessiahLive.
For times and information on how to participate.
Four hours after the Messiah Sing begins, it will be available for replay on demand for those individuals and groups who cannot participate in the live event.
Speaking of the world-wide virtual event, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir President Ron Jarrett said, “This is a wonderful way to celebrate the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ with Christians of the world.”
Members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Latter-day Saints believe in the reality of Jesus Christ and His resurrection and celebrate Easter, through word and song, along with other Christians everywhere.