The Messiah Chorus: A Lasting Legacy
Time-honored traditions season the holidays like cinnamon in a snickerdoodle. On December 6, the Lake Charles Messiah Chorus and Orchestra will celebrate their 75th Jubilee performance of George Frideric Handel’s Oratorio, the Messiah, in McNeese State University’s F. G. Bulber Auditorium. “It’s the longest running tradition at McNeese,” says board member Constance Darbonne.
A Musical Visionary
In 1940, Dr. Francis G. Bulber had a vision to create a long-standing tradition of performing this iconic choral work in Lake Charles. He contacted all the area church choirs and invited them to join him and the McNeese music majors in the production. They responded positively and thus began a Lake Charles and McNeese holiday tradition. Dr. Bulber directed the Chorus until 1974 when he retired. He returned to the podium for the 50th anniversary of Messiah in 1990. Dr. Bulber passed away in 1992.
by Angie Kay Dilmore
Temporary Setbacks
The Messiah performance has experienced some setbacks through the years. They took a hiatus during World War II. In 2005, Hurricane Rita damaged McNeese’s campus including F. G. Bulber Auditorium, destroying their risers. But not even a hurricane could stop the show. They held the event as a sing-along at First United Methodist Church on Broad St. for three years. The event returned to F. G. Bulber Auditorium and continued as a sing-along from 2008 - 2010, but something was amiss. The change of venue and format seemed to alter public perception, resulting in a decrease in interest and support. Funding dwindled. There was no Messiah performance in 2011.
Resurrecting a Ritual
When the community realized what they had lost, they rallied for the return of Messiah. Dr. Bulber’s wife, Patricia, played a pivotal role in reviving the performance. continued on p24
November 2015
Thrive Magazine for Better Living
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