Holiday 'Hallelujah': New Mexico’s youth take center stage in Polyphony’s 'Children's Messiah'

The vocals of New Mexican youth will ring out during the ninth annual “Children’s Messiah” show hosted by Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico.

For nine years, Polyphony — a local New Mexican professional choral ensemble — has hosted an open invite for New Mexican middle and high schoolers to sing to their hearts’ content.

Holiday 'Hallelujah': New Mexico’s youth take center stage in Polyphony’s 'Children's Messiah'

This year, the group will perform a shortened version of the three-hour “Messiah” by George Frideric Handel at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Cathedral of St. John, 318 Silver Ave. SW. The group will focus on the beginning of the performance, creating a 45-minute version of the show that highlights the themes of “Messiah.” The beginning of the show also features a Christmas story within the performance.

“I felt it was really part of our gift to the community to have an event that could include as many people as possible and the fact that it’s family-friendly and open to all really just opens up the accessibility aspect,” said Maxine Thévenot, founder and artistic director of Polyphony.

Together, nine professional vocalists will sing alongside students in a Christmas-themed performance. The group will meet on Friday, Dec. 13, for the first time and practice as a whole. They will rehearse with an orchestra and an organ will aid in the musical performance. The group, made up of people from across New Mexico, will put their skills to the test during the only once practiced performance.

“It’s not an audition process but the practices are helpful to me as a conductor to get a sense of things,” Thévenot said. “It’s funny how things always seem to work out, though. I always think I’ll get a few people and then end up with way more.”

The group, which includes school-aged youth, puts on performances on an annual basis. Over the years, the group has bonded and grown together, and many of the children involved have visited year after year to perform.

“There are children that have been part of this since sixth grade and are going into their senior year,” Thévenot said. “Those pupils just seem to really want to come back every year. It’s a way to kick off the holiday season in a very joyous and festive way.”

Though Thévenot does not know how many people will come support the show or participate in it, she’s confident the community will show up.

“Last year, we were at capacity at the cathedral which is just over 500 people,” she said. “Every year it just seems like we have more and more people involved.”

Thévenot believes the show marks the coming of a new holiday season.

“It’s definitely a holiday tradition for Polyphony and for the community that comes to support it,” she said. “It’s kind of infectious. I also think the 45-minute frame allows families to come at a time that is really busy and enjoy a positive event for the community.”