Choral Society of the Moriches feeling the pinch for "Messiah" performances

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Like many non-profit organizations, the Choral Society of the Moriches is feeling the pinch of tough economic times. Since 1937, the local singing group has presented George Frideric Händel’s “Messiah” annually at five East End churches, telling the story of Jesus Christ in a musical oratorio format.

Recently, as local congregation wallets have been getting thinner and tighter, the Choral Society has had to make cuts to the program, and nearly lost the performance schedule entirely.

Even at reduced rates, the singing group was still dropped from one of its five regular performance venues.

The Southampton United Methodist Church had to ditch the program entirely because of hard times, according to Choral Society President Lori Haus. She said that the remaining four churches also had trouble coming up with fees for the “Messiah” performance, which typically run between $2,500 and $3,000 each.

“We normally depend on the fees from the churches,” said Ms. Haus, noting that only vocal soloists, orchestra members and the choir director are paid for performance. “Churches would put up between $1,800 and $2,000 in the past and then we’d fund-raise for the rest, but obviously, with the economy the way it is, that just wasn’t going to happen this year.”

“Messiah” was just barely picked up again this year by four churches that annually feature the Christian concert. Presentations are being held at St. Jude R.C. Church, 89 Overlook Drive in Mastic Beach, on Friday, December 11, at 7:30 p.m.; the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 580 Main Road, Westhampton Beach, on Sunday, December 13, at 3 p.m.; the Congregational Church of Patchogue, 95 East Main Street, Patchogue, on Friday December 18, at 7:30 p.m.; and the Presbyterian Church of the Moriches, 263 Main Street, Center Moriches, on Sunday, December 20, at 3 p.m.

Ms. Haus said that as the choral society’s president she felt the weight of the singing group’s illustrious 73-year history of presenting “Messiah.” She noted that some choral society members actuallyshed tears when they realized this past April that local churches were cutting the concert because of financial hardships.

According to Ms. Haus, choral society members quickly resolved to keep the annual concert alive at any cost. To do that, the local singers realized that they not only had to warm up for their musical parts, but also had to hone their cold calling abilities as well.

“We had to bite the bullet and started circling around, begging for funds,” Ms. Haus said. “It was really uncomfortable, but at least we got better at it, and that’s how we were able to fund the performances we are giving.”

Among the donations the choral society received was a $1,500 gift from banking titan John Kanas, former Chairman and CEO of North Fork Bancorporation who is renowned on the East End for his philanthropy. Ms. Haus profusely thanked the reclusive benefactor for his generous donation.

But, she noted that donations both large and small were not enough to keep this year’s performances of “Messiah” afloat. So, the singers devised a creative solution to bring in more funding.

For the first time in the choral society’s history of presenting “Messiah,” the group is offering audience members a chance to “sing along” with the choir, for a fee of $15 per person.

The sing-along is being offered during the performance at the Congregational Church of Patchogue on Friday, December 18. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

“A lot of people have sung the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ in high school, but that’s only one chorus, there’s 12 more to do,” said Choir Director Martha Campanile, who has been conducting the choir for 15 years and took a personal pay cut of 20 percent to help reduce the cost of the productions.

“Choral society members are going to be disbursed throughout the vocal sections, which will be divided up into soprano, alto, tenor and bass sections, and you’ll have section leaders helping you so you don’t have to be isolated and singing by yourself.”

Singers will also be accompanied by a full orchestra, one which, Ms. Campanile admits, has been fuller in past years. Along with two clarinet players being slashed from the program, the entire orchestra is also taking a 20 percent pay cut as well.

“I think people will find it exciting to experience what it’s like to sing in a choir with an orchestra,” Ms. Campanile added. “You won’t just be watching ‘Messiah,’ you’ll be a part of it.”

With the exception of the sing-along at Patchogue, churches do not charge an entry fee for “Messiah” performances, although they do pass around the plate for donations. Ms. Haus noted that churches typically pay the choral society first and then pray that they will make back the money in donations during a performance.