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 now playing on WBNH Radio, 88.5 FM! Thank you, Jim Huber, Daniel Cushman and WBNH! Listen here.
Help spread the word about our concert! Need a copy of our 2022 poster for sharing? Get that here. Like and share our Facebook page!
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 now playing on WBNH Radio, 88.5 FM! Thank you, Jim Huber, Daniel Cushman and WBNH! Listen here.
Help spread the word about our concert! Need a copy of our 2022 poster for sharing? Get that here. Like and share our Facebook page!
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 concerts are free, and no tickets are required. The majority of our support is received from concertgoers through a free-will offering at the doors. You can still give online using the Donate button above. Money received throughout the year is put toward the following year's concert. (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 our 2022 concert:
|
|
Meet our Distinguished 2022 Soloists:
Courtney Huffman-Frye, Soprano: Recognized as a singer of exceptional artistry and versatility, soprano Courtney Huffman is a captivating and inspiring artist in the professional musical world. After taking First Place in the coveted NATS Artist Award Competition in Nashville, Tennessee, Ms. Huffman made her New York solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall.
At Long Beach Opera’s U.S. Premiere of Vivaldi’s Motezuma, Mark Swed with the LA Times wrote, “Teutile… brilliantly sung by a young soprano, Courtney Huffman.” Her stage credits include Yadwiga in Ben Moore’s Enemies, A Love Story, Violetta in La Traviata, Betty in Lowell Liebermann’s Miss Lonelyhearts, Frasquita in Carmen, and Zerlina in Don Giovanni.
An equally accomplished concert artist, Ms. Huffman has been a featured soloist with Boston Baroque, performing the role of Amor in a semi-staged version of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, and appearing as the soprano soloist in Bach’s Wedding and Coffee cantatas. Appearing frequently with the Peoria Bach Festival, Huffman has been the soprano soloist in Handel’s Samson and Silete venti, and Bach’s Cantata No. 187 and Cantata No. 172. Ms. Huffman has also been a soloist with New York City’s Orchestra Insonica and the Sunriver Music Festival Orchestra in Sunriver, OR, under the baton of Maestro Lawrence Smith.
Ms. Huffman’s passion for contemporary music has given her the opportunity to work with many distinguished composers. She has performed several World Premieres, including the title role in David Getz’s Ruth: The Musical, the solo adaptation of Timothy Takach’s Where Beauty Comes From, and Alan Chan’s song cycle Queen Sonnets. At the Aspen Music Festival, Huffman performed with the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble. She was invited by National Public Radio to record at the Harris Concert Hall for a nation-wide broadcast. Ms. Huffman returned to Aspen the following year, performing the U.S. Premiere of Oder Soll Es Tod Bedeuten?, a song cycle for soprano and strings by contemporary composer Aribert Reimann.
A native of Bend, Oregon, Huffman holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), and a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California (USC) Thornton School of Music. Ms. Huffman is passionate about teaching the next generation of singing actors and currently serves on the voice faculty of Bradley University in Peoria, IL.
At Long Beach Opera’s U.S. Premiere of Vivaldi’s Motezuma, Mark Swed with the LA Times wrote, “Teutile… brilliantly sung by a young soprano, Courtney Huffman.” Her stage credits include Yadwiga in Ben Moore’s Enemies, A Love Story, Violetta in La Traviata, Betty in Lowell Liebermann’s Miss Lonelyhearts, Frasquita in Carmen, and Zerlina in Don Giovanni.
An equally accomplished concert artist, Ms. Huffman has been a featured soloist with Boston Baroque, performing the role of Amor in a semi-staged version of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, and appearing as the soprano soloist in Bach’s Wedding and Coffee cantatas. Appearing frequently with the Peoria Bach Festival, Huffman has been the soprano soloist in Handel’s Samson and Silete venti, and Bach’s Cantata No. 187 and Cantata No. 172. Ms. Huffman has also been a soloist with New York City’s Orchestra Insonica and the Sunriver Music Festival Orchestra in Sunriver, OR, under the baton of Maestro Lawrence Smith.
Ms. Huffman’s passion for contemporary music has given her the opportunity to work with many distinguished composers. She has performed several World Premieres, including the title role in David Getz’s Ruth: The Musical, the solo adaptation of Timothy Takach’s Where Beauty Comes From, and Alan Chan’s song cycle Queen Sonnets. At the Aspen Music Festival, Huffman performed with the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble. She was invited by National Public Radio to record at the Harris Concert Hall for a nation-wide broadcast. Ms. Huffman returned to Aspen the following year, performing the U.S. Premiere of Oder Soll Es Tod Bedeuten?, a song cycle for soprano and strings by contemporary composer Aribert Reimann.
A native of Bend, Oregon, Huffman holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), and a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California (USC) Thornton School of Music. Ms. Huffman is passionate about teaching the next generation of singing actors and currently serves on the voice faculty of Bradley University in Peoria, IL.
Lottie Heckman, Alto: Lottie Heckman is a soprano from Benson, Illinois. Music has been an integral part of her life since birth. Her father and grandmother sang in a Gospel quartet, and both actively performed for many years in the Gospel music and Country music scene. Lottie’s grandparents owned and operated a Classic Country Opry for around 10 years, where Lottie got a majority of her early performance experience along with singing in church. She is currently a senior studying Vocal Performance at Illinois State University with Professor John Koch. While at Illinois State University, Lottie has participated in several vocal competitions where she has routinely been a finalist. These competitions include the Illinois State University Concerto and Aria competition and the Schmidt Vocal Arts Undergraduate Vocal Competition. Lottie made her MIOpera debut during the 2020 Summer Role Study Program with the role of Zerlina (Mozart’s Don Giovanni). Other notable roles include Frasquita (Bizet’s Carmen, MIOpera), Sister Berte (The Sound of Music, MIOpera), Mother Abbess (The Sound of Music, MIOpera), Annina (Verdi’s La Traviata, MIOpera), Fiordiligi (Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte), Miss Todd (Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief, Illinois State University) and Sally (Barber’s A Hand of Bridge, Illinois State University). In addition to performing at Illinois State University and with MIOpera, Lottie has been cantoring at Holy Trinity Catholic Church for several years. Along with cantoring, Lottie sings at weddings, funerals, and nursing homes when she can. Giving back to the community through music is a personal goal for Lottie and one she makes sure to pursue as often as possible.
Thomas Booth, Tenor: Tom studied voice at the Juilliard School and sang for nine seasons with the Metropolitan Opera in Principal and Leading roles. He has also sung Calaf with the New York City Opera and over 85 times with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Thomas Booth performed extensively in Europe in such centers as London, Stockholm, Warsaw, Nice, Montpellier, Liege, Rome, Wexford, Amsterdam, Aachen, Frankfurt, Pretoria South Africa, Monterrey Mexico and in many American cities as well as Montreal Canada, first as a baritone in many locations and then returning to many as a tenor. He toured the USA as tenor soloist with the Mantovani Orchestra in a tribute to Mario Lanza. Mr. Booth has premiered several works and has recorded for Decca, Albany and Erato records. He currently serves on the voice faculty of St Ambrose University in Davenport IA and has taught at Illinois Wesleyan University and Monmouth College. He also teaches privately and also does online private lessons. His varied interests include owning an online business, playing the organ, managing real estate, managing a piano store, health and fitness, and time with family, reading, and listening to lots of music.
John Koch, Baritone: In 1997, John Michael Koch, baritone, began teaching at the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University's School of Music in Normal, Illinois, where he serves as Voice Area Auditions Coordinator in the School of Music.
Koch has performed over 35 operatic and 50 oratorio roles throughout the world. He is General Director, Co-Founder of MIOpera, Inc., a 501 (c)3 non-profit performing arts organization that had its inaugural season in 2011 with Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. Subsequent seasons included Don Giovanni in 2012, Le nozze di Figaro in 2013, Bizet’s Carmen and Dan Shore’s The Beautiful Bridegroom in 2014, La cenerentola and Hansel and Gretel in 2015, Falstaff and The dialogues of the Carmelites in 2016, Les contes d’Hoffmann and Pirates of Penzance in 2018, La bohéme and Die Fledermaus in 2019, La traviata (the movie), Amahl and the Night Visitors and Il barbiere di Siviglia in 2021, and Carmen and The Sound of Music in 2022. This company was created to give young emerging singers from all over the world the opportunity to stage and perform complete operatic roles and is now central Illinois' leading opera company. MIOpera has received several generous grants from the Town of Normal Harmon Arts Grants Fund and the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation Mirza Arts and Culture Fund and was proud to offer unique opportunities to central Illinois audiences. As a soloist, Prof. Koch is noted for his interpretation of Orff's Carmina burana. Memorable performances of the Orff include Chicago’s Orchestra Hall with the Chicago Sinfonietta, Caracas Contemporary Ballet (Venezuela), Karmi'el Dance Festival in Israel (Tel Aviv Opera and Jerusalem), Chautauqua Institution, Cincinnati Ballet, Princeton University Symphony, and Glee Clubs, the Southwest Michigan and Green Bay Symphony Orchestras, the Montréal Philharmonic, the Canadian Ballet, and Illinois State University. Other abroad performances include the title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah in Cairo, Egypt. His world premieres of David Maslanka’s A Carl Sandburg Reader and his Symphony No. 9 have been released on CD by Albany Records. Another world premiere presented a Daron Hagen work based on the famous Civil War letter of Major Sullivan Ballou to his wife Sarah entitled: The Banner of my Purpose. Performances of the work were given at Illinois State University, Western Illinois University, and Pacific Lutheran University with Prof. Koch as a featured soloist with military band. Local solo performances have included Verdi’s Requiem, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, Britten’s War Requiem, Rossini’s Stabat mater, Haydn’s Creation, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah. He maintains a full voice studio in addition to conducting the ISU Civic Chorale since 2010.
Koch has performed over 35 operatic and 50 oratorio roles throughout the world. He is General Director, Co-Founder of MIOpera, Inc., a 501 (c)3 non-profit performing arts organization that had its inaugural season in 2011 with Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. Subsequent seasons included Don Giovanni in 2012, Le nozze di Figaro in 2013, Bizet’s Carmen and Dan Shore’s The Beautiful Bridegroom in 2014, La cenerentola and Hansel and Gretel in 2015, Falstaff and The dialogues of the Carmelites in 2016, Les contes d’Hoffmann and Pirates of Penzance in 2018, La bohéme and Die Fledermaus in 2019, La traviata (the movie), Amahl and the Night Visitors and Il barbiere di Siviglia in 2021, and Carmen and The Sound of Music in 2022. This company was created to give young emerging singers from all over the world the opportunity to stage and perform complete operatic roles and is now central Illinois' leading opera company. MIOpera has received several generous grants from the Town of Normal Harmon Arts Grants Fund and the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation Mirza Arts and Culture Fund and was proud to offer unique opportunities to central Illinois audiences. As a soloist, Prof. Koch is noted for his interpretation of Orff's Carmina burana. Memorable performances of the Orff include Chicago’s Orchestra Hall with the Chicago Sinfonietta, Caracas Contemporary Ballet (Venezuela), Karmi'el Dance Festival in Israel (Tel Aviv Opera and Jerusalem), Chautauqua Institution, Cincinnati Ballet, Princeton University Symphony, and Glee Clubs, the Southwest Michigan and Green Bay Symphony Orchestras, the Montréal Philharmonic, the Canadian Ballet, and Illinois State University. Other abroad performances include the title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah in Cairo, Egypt. His world premieres of David Maslanka’s A Carl Sandburg Reader and his Symphony No. 9 have been released on CD by Albany Records. Another world premiere presented a Daron Hagen work based on the famous Civil War letter of Major Sullivan Ballou to his wife Sarah entitled: The Banner of my Purpose. Performances of the work were given at Illinois State University, Western Illinois University, and Pacific Lutheran University with Prof. Koch as a featured soloist with military band. Local solo performances have included Verdi’s Requiem, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, Britten’s War Requiem, Rossini’s Stabat mater, Haydn’s Creation, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah. He maintains a full voice studio in addition to conducting the ISU Civic Chorale since 2010.
Dr. John Orfe, Piano/Organ: John is a composer whose music has been performed worldwide. He has fulfilled commissions for numerous chamber, choral, orchestras and festivals, earning praise from The New York Times, LAWeekly, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, Die Welt, and Hamburger Abendblatt. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from the University of Rochester, as well as Master of Music, Master of Musical Arts, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Yale School of Music. As piano soloist and collaborative artist, Dr. John Orfe has earned critical acclaim for his interpretations of five centuries of keyboard repertoire ranging from the canonic to the arcane. As the core pianist and a founding member of critically-acclaimed new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound, he has performed in Carnegie Hall, Miller Theatre, Roulette, the World Financial Center, and Symphony Space in New York; Disney Hall, Mondavi Hall, and Hertz Hall in California; and music series and festivals across the United States and Europe including Harvard University, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, Berlin, Bremen, Bolzano, Cork, Hamburg, London and Krakow. The New York Times praised his “virtuosic ardor” in performances of György Ligeti’s Piano Etudes and Concerto.
Special Statement About COVID:
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.