About Elgin Sing-Along Messiah

WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!

Celebrate the start of the holiday season.
Sing. Be part of a special community celebration as our audience chorus!
Give. Support Elgin residents in need. Ticket sales and freewill donations benefit a local charity.

Charity Partner:
2025 Event will benefit Well Child Center

Started by a group of Elgin-area volunteers in 2022 as a way for the community to celebrate the start of the holiday season and to raise awareness and funding for local charities, the Elgin Sing-Along Messiah highlights a different local nonprofit each year to put a spotlight on the needs of the community and give residents a way to help. Since 2022, the Elgin Sing-Along Messiah has raised $17,000 for Elgin charities, Food for Greater Elgin, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley, and PADS of Elgin.

Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit Well Child Center. For more than 50 years, Well Child Center has been committed to improving the lives of vulnerable women, children and families through education, counseling, and services in the areas of nutrition and oral health. The organization will use the donations to purchase culturally appropriate, child-friendly, nutritious food – including fresh fruits and vegetables, and meats – for its Food for Families emergency food pantry.

“The selection of Well Child Center as the Elgin Sing-Along Messiah’s charity partner this year is a gift of hope for those we serve. The funds raised will have a direct and meaningful impact on our work to support the most vulnerable families, women, and children in our community in the areas of nutrition and oral health. We are truly touched by the spirit of ‘singing and giving’ that defines this event and are so thankful for the community’s support.” Michelle Zajac Esquivel, MPH, Executive Director, Well Child Center.

About The Well Child Center (WCC) pantry

The Well Child Center (WCC) pantry—Food for Families—supports families in the community referred by the WCC Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and dental clinic, respectively, as well as other community partners through supplementing essential food items, hygiene products, and more.

The pantry was established in partnership with Food for Greater Elgin. The pantry is open 10 hours per week and stocks a variety of items including, but not limited to, canned fruits, vegetables, beans, pasta, bread, coffee, milk, frozen items, and more. The pantry operates in a client-choice format—families visit and choose for themselves the food or other items they want and need. They can shop one time per week at either Food for Families or Food for Greater Elgin.

Since opening in 2022, the pantry has served more than 5,600 families (including repeats. This equates to a total of 24,751 individuals served since the pantry opened. On average the pantry sees approximately 70 shoppers a week, most of whom are returning shoppers. There is an average of 13 new registrations each week.

While Food for Greater Elgin provides the vast majority of food that is distributed through Food for Families, Well Child Center specifically offers both food and other essential items that families need such as diapers, baby wipes, infant and toddler food, infant formula, and family-friendly foods as requested by neighbors who visit the pantry.

Well Child Center serves low-income children–100% fall below 133% of the poverty level (a gross monthly income below $3,076 for a family of 4). WCC clients and patients are diverse, as 73% are Hispanic, 14% are Caucasian, 10% are African American, 1% are Native American, and 1% Asian American.

Committee

A committee of Elgin residents, musicians, and professionals donate their time to coordinate Elgin Sing-Along Messiah:

Committee members:

Warren Anderson, Demoss Center for the Peforming Arts (Judson University)

Eric Gaston-Falk, Elgin Symphony Orchestra

Jeff Grosser

Maria Kanyova, Midwest Opera Theater

Donna Lake, Larkin Lake Strategic Communications

Alberto Mantovano, Assistant Conductor, Elgin Master Chorale, and music instructor at Hampshire High School

Mally Miceli, CEO Lifestyle Options, Inc. (retired)

Matthew Sheppard, Director, Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra

Marc Thayer, CEO, Elgin Symphony Orchestra

How We Began

Elgin resident Mally Miceli came up with the idea for a locally produced Sing-Along Messiah after traveling to Chicago’s Do-It-Yourself Messiah for years. A supporter of the Elgin arts community, Mally realized that the Northwest suburbs have a wealth of musical and vocal talent that could be showcased through a community sing-along. She also was aware of the increased need many area charities face during the holiday season. Thus, the idea to create the Greater Elgin Sing-Along Messiah was formed – to give the community a place to celebrate the start of the holiday season, embrace the spirit of giving, and be an active participant in the performance.

About Handel's Messiah

It’s all about the connection to England’s first children’s charity!

Handel’s beloved Messiah would most likely not thrive or even be known if it wasn’t for Foundling Hospital in London and it’s children’s charity established in 1739.

Since it’s interesting inception, the Messiah has become a cornerstone holiday tradition for communities around the world.

In line with this historical connection, the concept for The Greater Elgin Messiah Sing-Along would be to celebrate the act of giving. The idea of providing funds to the needy with the help of musical presentations is not new but always timely. Music has the ability to raise up and open hearts to suffering.