South Florida Symphony Orchestra and Barry University Celebrate Holiday Tradition With Handel's Messiah and Festive Holiday Pops
- Jennyfer Grundler
- 24 hours ago
- 2 min read
South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO), under the direction of Music Director Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso, ushered in the holiday season with its cherished annual performances of Handel’s Messiah (Part I) and Holiday Pops, presented on December 6 at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale and December 7 at Barry University’s Shepard & Ruth K. Broad Performing Arts Center in Miami Shores.
At the Barry University performance, the afternoon began with a pre-concert talk with Dr. Alan Mason, offering audiences historical context and musical insight before the concert’s opening notes. The performance concluded with the triumphant “Hallelujah” chorus, a defining moment of the holiday season for classical audiences worldwide.
SFSO’s program blended seasonal favorites with the grandeur of Handel’s masterwork, featuring vocal soloists Katherine Henly (soprano), Maggie Reneé (mezzo-soprano), Christopher W. Waite (tenor), and Neil Nelson (bass-baritone), joined by the South Florida Symphony Chorus under the direction of Dr. Giselle Elgarresta Rios. The chorus included members of the Barry University Chorus, New World School of the Arts Chorus, and the broader South Florida community, reflecting the performance’s unique blend of professional excellence and community participation.
Katherine Henly, Maggie Reneé, Christopher W. Waite and Neil Nelson, together with the South Florida Symphony Chorus, were featured vocalists in South Florida Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Handel’s Messiah and Holiday Pops on December 6 at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale and on December 7 at Barry University in Miami.
The Holiday Pops selections brought a celebratory tone to the program with audience favorites including “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” “The Prayer,” “You Make It Feel Like Christmas,” “Festive Sounds of Hanukkah,” and a holiday sing-along featuring classic carols such as “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World.”
Beyond the performance, the concert spotlighted SFSO’s longstanding collaboration with Barry University, which provides university-level choristers the rare opportunity to perform alongside a professional orchestra, offering a real-world artistic experience that strengthens vocal training, builds career readiness, and supports the continued growth of South Florida’s cultural ecosystem.
