
All systems are go for a live performance of Messiah on Sunday, November 21, 2021 at 2:30 pm, Grace Church, Morton, IL. A pre-concert organ prelude will begin at 2:20 pm by Dr. Sherry Seckler. The concert is free, and no tickets are required. A free-will donation can be made at the doors.
For a full-color PDF of our 2021 poster, click here.
The Morton Community Chorus, of Morton, IL, has been performing Handel's Messiah annually for many, many years. Although, "Morton" is in the name, it is perhaps a misnomer, as people from all over Central Illinois regularly participate in the choir and orchestra.
WCBU FM Peoria Public Radio and Arts Partners of Central Illinois radio program "Out And About" interviewed Phil Witzig regarding Messiah 2015. Although about a past performance, it nonetheless has some interesting dialog regarding the production in general. Listen here.
Listen to the wonderful radio spot produced and now playing on WBNH Radio, 88.5 FM! Thank you, Jim Huber, Daniel Cushman and WBNH! Listen here.
For a full-color PDF of our 2021 poster, click here.
The Morton Community Chorus, of Morton, IL, has been performing Handel's Messiah annually for many, many years. Although, "Morton" is in the name, it is perhaps a misnomer, as people from all over Central Illinois regularly participate in the choir and orchestra.
WCBU FM Peoria Public Radio and Arts Partners of Central Illinois radio program "Out And About" interviewed Phil Witzig regarding Messiah 2015. Although about a past performance, it nonetheless has some interesting dialog regarding the production in general. Listen here.
Listen to the wonderful radio spot produced and now playing on WBNH Radio, 88.5 FM! Thank you, Jim Huber, Daniel Cushman and WBNH! Listen here.

Our annual concerts are held at Grace Church in Morton. Although Grace Church graciously allows us to use their beautiful sanctuary, our annual productions of Messiah are community events, performed by the Morton Community Choir and Orchestra. The concert is free, and no tickets are required. The majority of our support is received from concertgoers through a free-will offering at the doors. Or, you can give online using the Donate button here. Online donations are being handled for us through the Morton Fine Arts Association. We also want to thank the following business sponsors for their help in underwriting this year's concert:
Special Statement About COVID for 2021
Attendees: Grace Church is a large venue with enough seating to socially distance as desired. There will also be hand sanitizer stations at each entrance. Masks for attendees are encouraged but not required. Masks are also optional for both choir and orchestra. Attendance is at your own risk.
Our 2021 Soloists:

Ashley McKinstry, Soprano - Ashley is a Chicago based soprano originally from Sioux Falls, SD. Her operatic roles include: Cat Lady/Zoom Speed Dating, Rosalinda/Die Fledermaus, Lady Liberty/The Proposal, First Lady/Die Zauberflöte, Arminda/La finta Giardiniera, Ruth Putnam/The Crucible, La Fortuna/L'incoronazione di Poppea, Jeannie/The Reformed Drunkard, & Mrs. Gobineau/The Medium. As an ensemble member, her operatic credits include: La Bohème with MIOpera, as well as Die Zauberflöte & Die Fledermaus with Sound of South Dakota. Notable concert ensemble credits include: Verdi/Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín, Beethoven/Symphony No.9 with Chicago Sinfonietta, Mendelssohn/A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Chicago Civic Orchestra. Ashley was a featured singer for MIOpera’s Musical Delights on Tap (2019) as well as the Chicago chapter of Opera on Tap as well as the soprano soloist in Britten/Rejoice in the Lamb with the USD Concert Choir. McKinstry has trained with MIOpera (2019), Opera Steamboat (2018), Chicago Summer Opera (2017/18) & OperaWorks, Advanced Artist Program (2016). She holds a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from Roosevelt University, CCPA, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from The University of South Dakota. Currently, she studies with Allan Glassman.

Loralee Songer, mezzo-soprano - Loralee is an active recitalist, opera and oratorio performer, and conductor. Her performing and academic career has taken her to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. A champion of art song, Loralee’s recital work has led to working with some of today’s most prolific coaches and composers, including Jake Heggie, John Musto, Libby Larsen, William Bolcom, Margo Garrett, Graham Johnson, and Martin Katz. Loralee participated in the summer program SongFest for two consecutive years and was named a 2013 Stern Fellow. In 2014, Loralee was a vocal fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center where she worked with such luminaries as Dawn Upshaw, John Harbison, and the late Phyllis Curtin. Her performances have been featured and reviewed in both the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times. She made her Carnegie Hall solo recital debut in 2019. Recent opera and musical theatre performances include the role of Mércèdes in Sempre Opera’s production of Carmen in South Africa (2018), Flora in La Traviata with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre (2016), Hannah Chaplin in the regional premiere of Chaplin with Revival Theatre Company (2019), Margaret Johnson in Taylor University’s production of The Light in the Piazza (2020), Marian Paroo in The Music Man (2020) and Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music (2021), both with Muncie Civic Theatre. Competitively, Loralee has been recognized for her vocal prowess, most recently being named the winner of The American Prize in Vocal Performance in Art Song & Oratorio (2021).
A full-time music department faculty member at Taylor University in Upland, IN, Loralee teaches voice and conducting. She holds the Doctor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance from Ball State University.
A full-time music department faculty member at Taylor University in Upland, IN, Loralee teaches voice and conducting. She holds the Doctor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance from Ball State University.

Edward Brennan, Tenor - Emerging American Tenor Edward Brennan’s voice has been described as ”fierce” and having a “baritonal” quality. An Illinois native, he has had the pleasure of performing with companies across the country. Having made his debut with Utah Festival Opera in 2017, his other appearances include Cedar Rapids Opera Theater, Opera Modo, Sinfonia da Camera, Sinfonietta bel Canto and the Danville Symphony Orchestra. In 2019, Edward joined the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices. A program founded by renowned Metropolitan Opera Mezzo-Soprano Dolora Zajick. Specializing in spinto and dramatic repertoire, roles to his credit include Pinkerton from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Enzo Grimaldo from Ponchielli's La Gioconda, and Luigi from Puccini’s Il Tabarro. Edward is under the tutelage of tenor Harold Meers.

Stephen Williams, Baritone - is a self-employed contractor and custom builder with a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Bradley University. As a Bradley student, Steve sang with the Bradley Chorale and Community Chorus. He studied voice with the late Dr. John Davis of Bradley University and now studies with Jerry Siena of the University of Illinois at Champaign – Urbana. He has served as Pontifical Cantor at The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria from 2000 to present. Steve was awarded both honorable mention in 2000 and first prize winner in 2002 in the adult division of the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singers) competitions. Steve has been a repeat soloist with Saint Martin Chamber Group and Chamber Players, Dramatic Crossroads, and Bradley Community Chorus. He has performed the baritone arias in oratorios including multiple productions of Handel’s Messiah, Mendelson’s Elijah, and Faure’s Requiem. Steve has performed excerpts of several operas including those of Le Nozze Di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Die Zauberflote, Il Barbiere Di Siviglia, Rigoletto, La Traviata, Pearl Fishers, and played the lead role in Menotti’s “The Telephone”. In 2018, Stephen debuted the role of Boaz in Ruth – A New Musical by David Getz to great acclaim.
Dr. Sherry Secker, Organist - Sherry Seckler studied piano under Randolph Hokanson at the University of Washington where she earned her B.A. in Music degree. As a married graduate student she played organ for a small church in Las Cruces, NM, to augment the meager household budget. One job led to another and in Peoria, IL she decided to take organ lessons so she could play concert organ music. An intense two-week session with concert organist Wilma Jensen (12 hour-long lessons in 13 days) was the first step leading to a Masters of Music in organ under Jerald Hamilton at the University of Illinois followed by a PhD in Organ Literature at the University of Iowa under Delores Bruch and Delbert Disselhorst. She has performed in France as part of the Summer Institute for French Organ Study and received a grant for further study on period instruments in France. She has held various organist positions in the area including Director of Music for St. John’s Catholic Chapel at the University of Illinois and Director of Music/Organist for St. Mary’s Cathedral. Currently she is Director of Music/Organist for St. Vincent de Paul.