Enhance this holiday season by joining with your neighbors and professional musicians in the Do-It-Yourself Messiah. Everyone is invited to be a part of the chorus, singing these much-loved songs of praise.

or a quarter of a century, LaSalle has brought Chicago together to sing Handel's Messiah.

Messiah is a complex piece of music composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel. It was originally an Easter celebration, but over the years has become associated with the Christmas holiday season. A small church in rural England began the "do-it yourself" part more than 30 years ago. The founder and president of the International Music Foundation, Al Booth, had been a participant and brought the custom to this country in 1975.

The LaSalle Do-It-Yourself Messiah is performed with a conductor, four professional soloists, and a full orchestra onstage. The entire audience, sitting in the house by voice range, sings the chorus parts.

This year's performances will take place at Chicago's Lyric Opera House, 20 North Wacker Drive, on Tuesday, December 19, and Wednesday, December 20, at 7 p.m.

Free tickets may be requested after November 15, 2000, by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope and choice of performance to the address below:

Do-It-Yourself Messiah
135 S. LaSalle Street #2905
Chicago, Illinois 60603

For more information, go to the Do-It-Yourself Messiah page on our website at www.lasallebank.com, or call 1-888-880-9701.