MARQUETTE — While the holidays are sure to look quite different this year in many ways, two Marquette organizations have found a new way to bring holiday cheer to the community.

At 3 p.m. Saturday, the Marquette Choral Society and Public Radio 90 will host A Sing-Along Messiah. Music including selections from the Choral Society’s 2010 recording of Handel’s Messiah and other Christmas classics and new favorites will be broadcast to the public on WNMU-FM, while singers from across the Upper Peninsula and further afield gather together on Zoom for singing, virtual activities, and all-around holiday cheer.

“Music is a huge part of what makes this season feel like the holiday season, and for many people that includes singing, whether that’s singing in a choir, in church, or just gathering with friends for Christmas carols,” said Sarah Rimkus, MCS member and publicity chair, in a news release. “With this event, we’ll be able to gather together and sing from the comfort and safety of our own homes.”

In addition to singing along with the musical broadcast, the event will take full advantage of Zoom’s features such as the chat window and screen sharing for a truly interactive virtual gathering – including games such as Zoom Bingo, trivia, an ugly sweater contest, and more.

The event is free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted. As the event is virtual and WNMU-FM can be streamed online, friends and family from around the world may join in.

“The goal of course is to get everybody involved. And the nice thing about Zoom is we can do this nationwide — someone can come in from California if they have a friend in the choral society, someone from Wisconsin. So it might be a nice way for us to get together in spite of the circumstances,” said musical director Dr. Erin Colwitz in the release.

Participants can register for the event through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marquette-choral-society-presents-a-sing-along-messiah-tickets-129748919511 Donations are gratefully accepted by Marquette Choral Society. Once registered, attendees will have access to the links they need to participate.

The Marquette Choral Society is a symphonic choir dedicated to bringing the beauty of choral music to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. WNMU-FM serves the public by creating and delivering, through various media platforms, diverse and in-depth content that informs, entertains, and enriches the Upper Great Lakes region and beyond.