The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Ecumenical Choir are calling for choristers.

Every year at Hornsby’s Cathedral Church, Our Lady of the Rosary, the Choir holds a local annual performance of Handel’s Messiah. This year, the performance is to be held on the 12th of December.

To boost the success of the event, the Choir needs interested community members to join and perform. Rehearsals begin at the start of November at St Swithun’s Anglican Church in Pymble.

‘There is no audition… It’s an ecumenical choir, people from all faiths join in,’ says Pierre Fromager, member of the Hornsby Messiah Committee. ‘Anybody who wants to do it is very welcome.’

In 2008, when the Diocese of Broken Bay combined the parish communities of Queen of Peace Normanhurst and Our Lady of the Rosary Waitara into one Hornsby Cathedral, parishioners were inspired to host an event to celebrate the Cathedral’s conception.

With a surplus of money raised, the Choir donated the funds to the Homelessness Task Force. In recent years, proceeds have been donated to the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter.

Together, the annual performance has been able to raise over $67,500 towards community wellness.

Handel’s Messiah tells the story of Jesus Christ. The first performance of Handel’s Messiah took place in Dublin, Ireland, and the money collected was given to local orphans.

‘There is this tradition when you perform Handel’s Messiah to donate the proceeds to a charity of some sort,’ explains Pierre.

Interested community members can contact Sharon at: hcmessiah@gmail.com