People attending the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology concert choir's presentation of George Frederic Handel's "Messiah" this weekend will probably notice at least one change from previous years' concerts.

This year, the audience will not be invited to sing along during the "Hallelujah Chorus." The sing-along portion had become a popular feature of the concert over the past five or six years, but School of Mines choir director James D. Feiszli said it was time for something different.

Feiszli and Rapid City Stevens High School orchestra director William G. Evans are cooperating on the presentation of Handel's oratorio.

"We're educators first and foremost," Feiszli said. "Educationally, it's not good to do the same thing year after year after year."

Having the choir sing the familiar chorus instead of the audience is a good opportunity for the students, he said.

Teaming with Evans and the Stevens orchestra players is an opportunity, as well.

"He selects his best players to do this," Feiszli said. "He's just excellent. The string players are just fantastic."

In its entirety, "Messiah" would be about 2-1/2 hours long. This weekend's presentations will not include the whole piece.

"It's a work about the prophecies and the birth and the life, the Christian life," Feiszli said. "We want to capture the essence of the whole thing."

If you go

Who: South Dakota School of Mines & Technology concert choir and the Rapid City Stevens High School orchestra, under the direction of James D. Feiszli, School of Mines choir director, and William G. Evans, Stevens orchestra director.

What: "Messiah" by George Frederic Handel

When: 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 13 and 14

Where: Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Suggested donations of $5 for adults and $3 for students will benefit the Children's Miracle Network at Rapid City Regional Hospital and the School of Mines music scholarship fund.

Contact Eric Lochridge at 394-8321 or e-mail eric.lochridge@rapidcityjournal.com.