By: Thomas Baack

Every other year, Oak Park’s A cappella choir and orchestra performs the master work, Handel’s Messiah, which is considered by many directors and performers to be incredibly tough. But one student, Senior Sterling Robbins, played in the orchestra and performed the solo, “The People that walked in darkness”, while also learning all of his parts for the chorus. Robbins had plenty to say, but simply put it as an easy performance.

NorthmenNews: How many years have you performed the Messiah?

Sterling Robbins: This is my second year

NN: Was this the first year you played with the orchestra?

SR: Yeah, last time I just sang with the choir

NN: Was this the first year you had a solo?

SR: Yeah, it was pretty hard to learn

NN: Did playing in the orchestra cause a conflict with learning your vocal music and solo?

SR: No, we had a lot of time to learn everything, and I thought the Messiah as a whole was pretty easy

NN: How did The Messiah performance go for you?

SR: All in all, it was pretty perfect.