When the Smyrna Church music committee decided to sponsor a performance of Handel’s “The Messiah,” their goal was to involve and inspire youth with the classics. Preparing for the production generated tremendous excitement because the solo parts and performers in the 25-piece orchestra would all be under age 26.

Mentors based their approach on internal and external research. They learned that 20-30 years ago, 90 percent of the Church’s youth were involved in formal music training; today most are absorbed with digital music, video games and listening to, rather than learning to play, music.

“For this performance, we encouraged parents to urge their youth to take a more active stand for sacred classical music, teaching them to be well-rounded musicians,” noted Eleanor Marshalleck, music committee chair. “When this is done, churches will be enriched by having their own musicians; the community will have more stable, productive young people. Youth pursuing musical careers of any kind will be better prepared for success.”

Los Angeles-area singers from teens to octogenarians augmented Smyrna’s combined choir, resulting in a 70-voice chorale. Lloyd Mallory, former director of the Oakwood College Aeolians and a doctoral candidate at UCLA, directed. The four inspiring young soloists were flown in from Oakwood College and Morgan State University in Baltimore.

Recognizing that not everyone is musically inclined, leaders encouraged youth to help with stage and TV production. The teenaged lead reporter for this article also accepted the opportunity to develop her writing skills.

Franklyn Broomfield, a former youth leader, added, “Some young people were reluctant initially to tackle ‘The Messiah,’ so it was rewarding to have teens in a singing choir led by Jenice Broomfield beg to sing! They had performed before the concert, then exited to make room for the musicians.

“The performance at Berean Church drew standing-room-only attendance, so these youth were seated in the overflow room, but they had been so awed by the dress rehearsal that they wanted to participate.

“When Dr. Mallory lifted his baton they realized, ‘We don’t want to be left out.’ Their parents had felt that the oratorio’s difficulty would frustrate them and the dozen young people had agreed, but had practiced singing anyway.

“Seeing the young soloists, they realized that this was not going to be an ‘old fogey’ event; that the music was difficult but achievable. They asked leaders to make space for them. Afterward, young people were already asking what they could do to expand on the performance next December.”

Marshalleck added, “At a mid-January (2004) rehearsal, it appeared that there was more interest in music among the young people. My goal in 2004 is to build up our music groups to have greater consistency, performing regularly in church. When we do another production, it won’t be as difficult!”