See One of the Oldest Holiday Traditions in Southwest Oklahoma

In December 1941, local musicians initiated the first ever performance of Handel's "Messiah" in Lawton. Little did they know that the Lawton Schubert Music Club would spark a holiday tradition that has been continued for over eight decades!

The group didn't even miss a performance due to the pandemic the last two years. Instead, they live streamed the performance from Lawton's historic McMahon Memorial Auditorium. This year's performance will be back in person and will feature a chorus of 80 vocalists, representing over 30 different local church congregations and orchestras.

This year's performance is presented by the Lawton Schubert Music Club, Fort Sill's New Post Chapel and the Cameron University/Lawton Civic Chorus. And it will be the 81st performance of Handel's "Messiah" in Southwest Oklahoma! The one-hour concert will feature selections from each of the three portions of the Biblical text lyricized by Charles Jennings, representing the prophecy, life, death, resurrection and the promised return of Jesus Christ. "Messiah" was composed by George F. Handel for chorus, soloists and orchestra.

Handel's 'Messiah' 2022 Performance

Handel's "Messiah" will be conducted by Doris Lambert, adjunct music instructor at Cameron University and director of choral music and New Post Chapel. This year's featured soloists include Samantha Cook, Debbie Wood, Khalil Cabrera-Tosado, Alyson Hays Bishop and Kirk Prucha.

You can be part of local holiday history when you see Handel's "Messiah" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 10, at the McMahon Memorial Auditorium in Lawton! Admission is free.