Step back in time this holiday season as the Spire Chamber Ensemble presents Handel’s Messiah by Candlelight on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 7 p.m. at the historic Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St, Kansas City, MO. Traditionally performed during the holiday season, Spire’s presentation of the Baroque masterpiece will be presented as a historically informed performance faithful to the size, sound, and spirit of its 1742 Dublin premiere, including the candlelight setting. Tickets are available here. The Spire Chamber Ensemble is one of America’s renowned professional choral ensembles, comprised of 17 vocalists and 20 instrumentalists from the Kansas City area and across the country. The musicians travel to Kansas City for their concerts.
When Handel’s masterpiece premiered in 1742, the composer chose to make it a charitable concert benefiting three charities. This philanthropic tradition deepened when Handel began his long association with London’s Foundling Hospital, an institution for orphaned and abandoned children.
At the Dec. 23 concert, Spire Chamber Ensemble is honoring this tradition, partnering with Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy, providing world-class care and resources for children and their families in our community.
Patrons are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy (latex-free, non-toxic in its original packaging) to the concert that will be given to Children’s Mercy patients during the holidays. Patrons may also support Children’s Mercy by making financial gifts this holiday season to help fuel programs that uplift its patients and people who care for them. To donate, A special QR code will be included in the concert program or those interested may donate at this link.
“Spire Chamber Ensemble is proud to continue this tradition by partnering with Children’s Mercy during our concert,” said Ben Spalding, Spire Founder and Artistic Director. “Just as Handel used his music to bring healing and hope, we invite our audience to support Kansas City families facing medical challenges.
“Thank you to Spire Chamber Ensemble for making a difference for kids at Children’s Mercy,” said Jenea Oliver, PhD, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer for Children’s Mercy. “Your generosity will provide toys, games, clothing, and crafts to brighten the days of kids spending the holidays in the hospital – bringing hope and joy to families at a time when they need it most.” For more information about the Dec. 23 concert and the ensemble, as well as Spire’s partnership with Children’s Mercy, please visit www.spirechamberensemble.org.
About Spire Chamber Ensemble
Spire Chamber Ensemble is a virtuoso choir and orchestra comprised of distinctive solo artists who are also committed to the highest level of ensemble performance. These musicians travel to Kansas City to perform together, providing audiences with a rare level of choral music-making found anywhere else in the country. The Spire Baroque Orchestra, encompassing the finest historical players, joins our world-class singers for concerts of unmatched artistic excellence. Established in 2010, Spire has quickly evolved into a national phenomenon, lauded for artistry, innovation, and mastery at making music that matters to audiences throughout the country. Now in their 16th season, Spire is regarded as one of the preeminent choral-orchestral chamber ensembles in the United States. Led by Founder and Artistic Director Ben A. Spalding, Spire performs repertoire ranging from Baroque and Classical masterpieces with period instruments to newly commissioned works by Jake Runestad, Zachary Wadsworth, John Muehleisen, Jonathan Woody, and Sir James MacMillan. Follow the ensemble on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Children’s Mercy
Built for Kids. Powered by Purpose.
Founded in 1897, Children’s Mercy is a nationally recognized, independent pediatric health system and a world leader in pediatric translational research committed to transforming the lives of children and families. With hospitals and specialty clinics across Missouri and Kansas, Children’s Mercy delivers world-class, family-centered care closer to home. As a nonprofit organization, Children’s Mercy reinvests every dollar donated into advancing pediatric medicine, supporting innovative research and training the next generation of pediatric specialists. With more than 800 pediatric experts, researchers, and faculty, we are dedicated to improving outcomes and creating a healthier future for all children. Children’s Mercy has earned repeated recognition from U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” and is the first health system in Missouri or Kansas to receive six consecutive Magnet designations for nursing excellence. Thanks to generous philanthropic support and a strong volunteer community, Children’s Mercy provides hope, comfort, and the prospect of brighter tomorrows to every child who comes through its doors. Visit Children’s Mercy and the Children’s Mercy Research Institute to learn more, and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube for the latest news and videos.