By Peter Slowik

This holiday season is all about people coming together in peace and joy.  What better way to do that than with music?  Oberlin-based Credo Music (credo-music.org) has been doing that for 9 years running in the Cleveland area, hosting a sing-along Messiah at Finney Chapel and Severance Hall.  Here’s a clip of about 500 people singing the Hallelujah chorus this last Sunday:

On Dec 20, Credo will go one better, with a sing-along in the Chicago area. At Musicovation, we’re excited to see different groups of people coming together to do good things with music.  In this case, 6 members of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra will be joining the young Credo alumni (HS and college age) to make up the orchestra. Soloists will be talented young vocalists now pursuing their degrees at top conservatories (Oberlin and Lawrence) and some noted professionals.  The chorus will be …. who knows? Maybe YOU?!

The entire event (which will take place  at 4 PM Sunday Dec 20 at Grace Lutheran Church  (300 Division St, River Forest, IL) is free.  A collection will be taken to benefit the Harmony Food Pantry in nearby Lawndale.  If you’re in the Chicago area, we urge you to consider coming to this joyous community event.

Peter Slowik has devoted his life to sharing his passion and understanding of music as a performer and teacher.  In addition to his current positions as Professor of Viola at Oberlin Conservatory and Artistic Director of Credo, he’s taught at Cleveland Institute, Eastman, Indiana University, and Northwestern University, and performed with Chicago Symphony and with numerous notable chamber music colleagues.