MUSIC WORCESTER ANNOUNCES RETURN OF
BELOVED HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
THE WORCESTER CHORUS SINGS HANDEL’S MESSIAH
DECEMBER 5 AT MECHANICS HALL
WOMEN’S ENSEMBLE HOLIDAY CONCERT
DECEMBER 20 AT TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
(Worcester, MA – October 20, 2026) Music Worcester will present two cherished Central Massachusetts holiday traditions this December. The Worcester Chorus will perform Handel’s Messiah on December 5 at Mechanics Hall, followed by the Worcester Chorus Women’s Ensemble annual Holiday Concert on December 20 at Trinity Lutheran Church. Tickets and additional performance details are available now at musicworcester.org.
A cornerstone of the region’s cultural history, Handel’s masterpiece was first performed by The Worcester Chorus during the grand opening weekend of Mechanics Hall in 1858. Over the past several decades, the performance has become a definitive annual tradition, marking the beginning of the holiday season for generations of families throughout New England.
“Last year, we celebrated our long run of Messiahs by hearkening back to time when these arias were sung by larger voices, as opposed to the Baroque specialists we’ve seen in the last 50 years,” said The Worcester Chorus’ Artistic Director Chris Shepard. “Judging by the audience reaction, and literally by popular demand, we have invited back the four soloists who lifted our performance to new heights.”
Soprano Robyn Marie Lamp is a powerful Florida-based soprano, who has served as a soloist in Verdi’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall and Mechanics Hall, singing as an ensemble member of the GRAMMY nominated vocal ensemble Seraphic Fire, performing the title role in Puccini’s Tosca with the Naples Philharmonic, and singing the role of Adele in Bellini’s rarely heard Il pirata at Caramoor’s Music Festival with Orchestra of St. Luke’s.
Mezzo-soprano Ann McMahon Quintero enjoys a career on the operatic and concert stage where her rich voice has been praised for “warm, honeyed tones” (Baltimore Sun), and “fully nuanced” portrayals of characters ranging from Verdi’s Amneris, Azucena and Mistress Quickly to the Old Lady in Candide. Ms. Quintero’s recent orchestral engagements have included appearances with Boston Baroque—with whom she frequently performs—as well as soloist for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Williamsburg and Columbus Symphonies and the Buffalo Philharmonic with JoAnn Falletta.
Hailed by Opera News for his “handsome sound,” and described as a “standout” by the Wall Street Journal, tenor Derrek Stark has established a reputation as an elegant performer with nuanced and stylish singing. He has sung with The Metropolitan Opera, Pacific Opera Project, Palm Beach Opera and more. Equally at home in concert repertoire, Mr. Stark has performed with the Atlantic Classical Orchestra, the Orchestra of Saint Luke’s, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in repertoire ranging from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony to Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle.
Praised for his “booming and room-filling bass” (Voce di Meche), basso profondo Edwin Jhamal Davis is an artist on the rise. He made his house débuts at The Metropolitan Opera as Garvey Preacher in X: The Life & Times of Malcolm X and at Seattle Opera as Bass 2, a role he also performed with Opera Omaha. Additionally, he recently made his Carnegie Hall debut in Mozart’s Requiem and performed the bass solo in Stravinsky’s Pulcinella with the Mainly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center.
On December 20, The Worcester Chorus Women’s Ensemble performs their annual Holiday Concert at Trinity Lutheran Church. Led by Mark Mummert, the concert will feature Britten’s Ceremony of Carols and Susa’s Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest, alongside a program of other holiday classics and sing-alongs. A dessert reception follows the performance.
The Women’s Ensemble is part of The Worcester Chorus of Music Worcester, which has been an important part of Central Massachusetts’ musical tradition since its founding in 1858. Today, the full Chorus numbers approximately 100 professional and amateur singers from Worcester County and southern New England. Their repertoire also includes other classical choral pieces, opera, musical theater, American folk songs, and more.
Mark Mummert is the director of The Worcester Chorus Women’s Ensemble and assistant director & accompanist for The Worcester Chorus. Mark is also Cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA), Worcester, MA where he leads the music in all worship services, conducts the exceptional Trinity Choir, and is artistic director of the Music at Trinity fine arts series. In addition, Mark serves on the voice faculty at Hanover Theater Conservatory in Worcester. He has served as the Director of Worship at Houston’s Christ the King Lutheran Church (2008-2015) and as Seminary Musician at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (1990-2008).
Chris Shepard, the Ruth Susan Westheimer Artistic Director of The Worcester Chorus and Music Worcester’s THE COMPLETE BACH. He is also the director of CONCORA (Connecticut Choral Artists), Connecticut’s oldest professional choir in Hartford. A conductor, keyboard player, teacher, and musicologist, his award-winning PhD thesis from the University of Sydney examined the performance history of Bach’s B Minor Mass in America. Chris led BACH2010, a project in which his Sydneian Bach Choir & Orchestra presented all of Bach’s choral cantatas in Sydney, Australia.
The Women’s Ensemble Holiday Concert is one of nine Pay What You Wish events offered during the Music Worcester 2026-2027 Season. When purchasing tickets the buyer can choose from a set of pre-determined price levels. This structure allows patrons the flexibility to select the price level they feel most comfortable with. Tickets sold at the higher end of the price range help subsidize those sold at the lower end.
About Music Worcester
Founded in 1858, Music Worcester continues its long tradition of presenting internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles to Central Massachusetts, with programming that spans classical, jazz, global traditions, and dance.
Music Worcester’s education and community engagement initiatives include in-school workshops, masterclasses, and free and reduced-price ticket programs. This season, in addition to historic Mechanics Hall, Music Worcester will present concerts in The Hanover Theatre, JMAC’s BrickBox, WAMS Works, Tuckerman Hall, Assumption University’s Curtis Hall, Trinity Lutheran Church, First Unitarian Church, and Doherty Memorial High School.
In 2026–2027, Everett McCorvey continues his Artist-in-Residency, following past residents Simone Dinnerstein and Vijay Gupta, as part of the organization’s biannual residency program focused on deep and lasting community connection.
Music Worcester presents two holiday concerts: The Worcester Chorus performing Handel’s Messiah on Saturday, December 5 at 7pm at Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St., Worcester, MA and The Worcester Chorus Women’s Ensemble performing their annual Holiday Concert Sunday December 20 at 4pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 73 Lancaster Street, Worcester. Pay What You Wish ticketing is available for the December 20 concert. Tickets and information for all Music Worcester events are at https://www.musicworcester.org/schedule/
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For additional program information and photos, contact:
David Balsom/CK Communications Group 617.510.2316 – dbalsom@ckcommgroup.com
Adam Klein/CK Communications Group 617.504.6156 – adam@ckcommgroup.com
2026-2027 Season Schedule
BACHTOBERFEST WEEKEND
Emi Ferguson: Flute Sonatas
Friday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 pm
WAMS Works
Cantatas with CONCORA
Cantatas: BWVs 6, 39, 80
Saturday, Oct. 24 at 4 pm
WAMS Works
Boris Giltburg
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I
Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 pm
Curtis Hall, Assumption University
First Unitarian Church Choir:
Music Sunday
Cantata 111
Sunday, Oct. 25 at 10:15 am
First Unitarian Church
BACHtoberfest Choir & Hartford Chorale
Cantatas: BWVs: 1, 18, 79, 192
Sunday, Oct. 25 at 4 pm
Mechanics Hall
Worcester Chorus & Friends: Ellington & Gershwin
Artist-in-Residence Dr. Everett McCorvey,
The Worcester Chorus & WPI Festival Chorus
Porgy and Bess; Rhapsody in
Blue, Three Black Kings
Sunday, Nov. 1 at 5 pm
Hanover Theatre
Music Worcester Celebrates America’s 250th
Artist-in-Residence Dr. Everett McCorvey,
The Soldiers’ Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band,
Bridgewater State Univ. Choral Society, First Unitarian Church Choir,
Worcester Children’s Chorus
Works include Margaret Bonds Credo, and
Beethoven Symphony No. 9 “Ode to Joy” mvt. 4
Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 pm
Mechanics Hall
Jason Moran presents
The Music of Duke Ellington: My Heart Sings
Friday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 pm
BrickBox at JMAC
American Spiritual Ensemble:
God’s Trombones
Artist-in-Residence Dr. Everett McCorvey
Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7 pm
Doherty Memorial High School
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
with Maya Wichert, violin soloist
Sibelius, Brahms, Bortniansky, Berezovsky
Friday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 pm
Mechanics Hall
Ballet Hispánico New York
CARMEN.maquia
A new work celebrating the 150th anniversary of Bizet’s opera
Thursday, Mar. 4 at 7:30 pm
Hanover Theatre
(Co-presentation with the Hanover Theatre & Conservatory)
Avi Avital & Les Violons du Roy
Mandolin and chamber orchestra
Bach, Vivaldi, Scarlatti
Saturday, Mar. 13 at 4 pm
Tuckerman Hall
BACH’S BIRTHDAY BASH
Darshan Trio
The Art of Fugue
Friday, Mar. 19 at 7:30 pm
Curtis Hall, Assumption University
Bach Organ: Spring 2027
Saturday, Mar. 20 at 4 pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
Canadian Brass:
Bach Reinventions
Saturday, Mar. 20 at 7 pm
Mechanics Hall
Adam Birnbaum Trio:
Bach Meets Jazz
Saturday, Mar. 20 at 9 pm
Washburn Hall @ Mechanics Hall
Cantatathon 2027
Trinity Lutheran Church Choir,
Haverford & Bryn Mawr Colleges (PA)
Cantatas: BWVs 97, 117, 173, 184, 145
Sunday, Mar. 21 at 4 pm
Mechanics Hall
Bach St. Matthew Passion
300th Anniversary
The Worcester Chorus
Guest Conductor María Guinand
Sunday, Apr. 11 at 4 pm
Mechanics Hall
Martha Graham Dance Co.
Saturday, Apr. 24 at 7:30 pm
Hanover Theatre
(Co-presentation with the Hanover Theatre & Conservatory)
Bach Organ: Clavier Ubung III
Organists Mark Mummert & Wesley Hall
Sunday, Apr. 25 at 4 pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
(Note: Artists, program, dates/times, and venues subject to change)