A Gettysburg College professor took the podium this holiday season on one of the nation’s most prestigious stages, continuing a long tradition of Sunderman Conservatory of Music faculty performing at world-class venues.
César Leal, professor at Gettysburg College’s Sunderman Conservatory of Music, served as a guest conductor for the 58th annual Handel’s Messiah Sing-In on Dec. 15 at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The performance was held in David Geffen Hall and brought together thousands of choristers from across the region.
Leal collaborated with National Chorale Artistic Director Everett McCorvey, leading a chamber orchestra in the holiday tradition, which is known for its large-scale participation and communal spirit. The event featured soprano Brittany Renee, alto Hilary Ginther, bass Gabriel Preisser, tenor Matthew Pearce, and organist James Wetzel.
Leal is the first Colombian conductor to participate in the Messiah Sing-In, joining a distinguished group of Sunderman Conservatory faculty members who have performed or conducted at Lincoln Center over the years. He said the invitation represented both a personal milestone and a chance to highlight Gettysburg College on an international stage.
The Messiah Sing-In has been a fixture of the holiday season since 1967, when it was founded to bring singers together from across New York City in celebration of choral music. Unlike traditional choral concerts, audience members actively participate, singing alongside the ensemble in a mixed arrangement rather than in standard soprano, alto, tenor and bass sections. While Lincoln Center has become a familiar home for the event, similar sing-ins have been held in cities across the United States.
At Gettysburg College, Leal serves as director of orchestral activities and coordinator of musicology at the Sunderman Conservatory, and chairs the Ann McIlhenny Harward Interdisciplinary Program for Culture and Music. Born in Colombia, he has conducted professional ensembles throughout the United States and internationally, including in France, Bulgaria, Panama and Ukraine. His work often connects European and Latin American musical traditions.
Source: Gettysburg College