Conductor Rob Hennig is promising a special treat this Saturday for lovers of Handel’s Messiah — a performance just as the composer had intended it, with a choir of about 40 voices accompanied by a small orchestra and a pipe organ.

The performance by Mr. Hennig’s new Headwaters Concert Choir and Toronto’s Mooredale Symphony will take place at 7 p.m. in Orangeville’s Westminster United Church.

Rob, who has spent the last decade teaching and leading musical events in the Orangeville area, initiated the Orangeville and District Music Festival and created the Headwaters Youth Orchestra, a group of 20 young musicians (aged 9 to 17) that rehearses at Westside Secondary School with about six adults on hand as mentors.

Mr. Hennig’s musical training included work with the late Elmer Iseler and the Elmer Iseler Singers.

His studies in Toronto included choir, organ, orchestral and vocal training, and his honours include the Kopaz Foundation award for excellence in music and the Canadian Opera Women’s Society award.

The conductor says his new choir, founded in September, stands as “a testament to the high level of talent in the headwaters region.

The level of musicianship has been extraordinarily high by Orangeville and even Toronto standards.”

An added promise: “Their rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus is completely exhilarating.”

One unusual feature of the performance will be the conductor’s selection of soloists from the choir members as well as professionals.

The soprano soloist will be Shelagh Tyreman, whose performances have included Mahler’s Fourth Symphony with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and operatic roles as well as solo parts in many sacred works, including Fauré’s Requiem, Rutter’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia and Harry Somers’ Love-in-Idleness.

The mezzo soprano soloist will be Jennifer Elizabeth Fino, the former Jennifer Centrone, who lived in Orangeville and had many roles with both Orangeville Music Theatre and Theatre Orangeville before graduating with an Honours Bachelor in Opera Performance degree from the University of Toronto. She recently won glowing reviews for her performance in the role of Dorabella in Brampton Lyric Opera’s production of Cosi Fan Tutte.

Other soloists include Laura and Lisa Jotham, Laura Bowden, tenor Keith Thompson and baritone David Pounds.

Some tickets (adults $20; seniors/students $18, children under 12, $16) will be available at the door or from BookLore or the Orangeville Citizen.