PROGRAM
Courtney Lewis Conductor
Estelí Gomez Soprano
Jay Carter Countertenor
Aaron Sheehan Tenor
Sidney Outlaw Baritone
Jacksonville Symphony Chorus
George Frideric Handel Messiah
Join Music Director Courtney Lewis and the Jacksonville Symphony for a breathtaking performance of Handel’s Messiah, featuring brilliant solo vocalists and the full Symphony Chorus. This uplifting and majestic masterpiece radiates with hope, inspiration and pure joy. Its powerful message of faith has captivated audiences since its debut in 1742, leaving listeners in pure awe. Don’t miss this incredible tradition—experience Messiah in all its glory and discover what has been heralded as "the greatest story ever told... the most majestic music ever conceived."
Presented by 
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FEATURED ARTISTS
Courtney Lewis Music Director, Haskell Endowed Chair
Anchored in the belief that music holds the power to transform lives, Courtney Lewis has established himself as one of his generation’s most dynamic conductors. Currently in his eleventh season as Music Director of the Jacksonville Symphony, Lewis has designed an ambitious mission to enrich the surrounding community with innovative symphonic programming, creating the highest quality of art possible, accessible to all...continue reading
Photo by Liz Linder
Estelí Gomez Soprano
Praised for her “clear, bright voice” (New York Times) and “artistry that belies her young years” (Kansas City Metropolis), soprano Estelí Gomez is quickly gaining recognition as a stylish interpreter of early and contemporary repertoires. In January 2014 she was awarded a GRAMMY® with contemporary octet Roomful of Teeth, for best chamber music/small ensemble performance...continue reading
Jay Carter Countertenor
Jay Carter has gained a reputation as one of the nation’s finest countertenors. A frequent collaborator with both period and modern ensembles, he is recognized as a leading interpreter of late Baroque repertoire and has been lauded for his luminous tone, stylish interpretations, and clarion delivery...continue reading
Aaron Sheehan Tenor
GRAMMY® Award winning tenor, Aaron Sheehan, recognized internationally as a leading interpreter of baroque repertoire, is equally at home on the concert platform and the opera stage, from medieval monody to twentieth century masterworks. Aaron Sheehan made his professional operatic debut with the Boston Early Music Festival in the 2005 world premiere staging of Mattheson’s Boris Gudenow, winning praise from Opera News for his “sinous and supple” voice...continue reading
Sidney Outlaw Baritone
Lauded by The New York Times as a “terrific singer” with a “deep, rich timbre,” Sidney Outlaw is an “opera powerhouse” who has delighted audiences in the U.S. and abroad with his “weighty and forthright” sound (San Francisco Chronicle) since 2010, when he exploded onto the international scene as the winner of the Grand Prize at the Concurso Internacional de Canto Montserrat Caballé...continue reading
Jacksonville Symphony Chorus
With some of the area’s finest voices, Jacksonville Symphony Chorus members come from all walks of life who share the spirit of singing great choral music. The tradition of making great music with the Jacksonville Symphony started in 1985 with a roster including many professional musicians and skilled amateur performers. Since 2012, the Chorus had been led by esteemed choral director and composer Donald McCullough...continue reading