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Today's Featured Biography

 
Jay Trottier

Graduated Univ of AZ 1974
Graduated Golden State Univ 1981

Retired from City of Fairfield, CA

Conductor of Temple Hills Symphony Orchestra, Oakland, CA


Conductor of Solano Chamber Society annual performance of Handel's "Messiah".


Solano Chamber Society continues Handel’s ‘Messiah’ tradition
By Tony Wade

FAIRFIELD — George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah,” composed in 1741, continues to inspire Solano Chamber Society conductor Jay Trottier. He has brought the oratorio to life for Solano County residents annually for close to three decades.
“It’s music from heaven,” Trottier said. “I believe even the masters couldn’t have written that kind of masterpiece alone. Handel had to have been directed from heaven above. It sounds like the heavenly host ushering in Christ on the Earth and the hallelujah chorus is praise of God in the finest.”

Trottier’s affection for Handel’s most famous work goes back to when he was a child.
“My mom was in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and I would go to her rehearsals when I was very little and I just fell in love with it,” Trottier said. “I think the first time I went I was 5 and I heard it every year. It became a tradition.”

Trottier performed the piece at his own church locally for a number of years and then was asked if he could produce it for the city of Fairfield as part of its holiday celebration.

“At first the church paid for whatever expenses we had in mounting the production and afterwards the city did, but soon we needed to be able to offer a tax write-off for those who donated. So we incorporated as a nonprofit and came up with the name Solano Chamber Society,” Trottier said.

The organization began with a small orchestra – between 35 and 45 people. They have grown steadily over the years and this year 100 people showed up at the first rehearsal. When they perform in Fairfield, Vacaville and Oakland, there will be about 200 people altogether; 150 in the chorus and 50 in the orchestra. Plus, the audience is encouraged to join in.

“At each of the performances we are combining a sing-along with the concert style, so if people come and they want to sing, I put them in the first few rows and they can sing with their respective vocal sections,” Trottier said. “Most think of a sing-along as a do-it-yourself where the audience is the actual chorus and there is not one on stage, but I combine the two. I will have vocal scores available (that) they can check out in the back – and people can listen or they can sing along.”

While anyone can join the chorus, Trottier held auditions for soloists and the response was tremendous, he said.

“We had some really talented people show up from all over the Bay Area – San Jose, San Rafael – that’s who I need because they have to step in and perform some very difficult music without even having a rehearsal,” Trottier said.

Putting on the productions without having rehearsals for the orchestra was a calculated move to save money that Trottier began last year with success. Since so many of the musicians have performed it year after year and are very familiar with the music, a brief run-through an hour or so before performances is all that is required.

One major difference this year is the show will be staged at two churches locally instead of the respective theaters. It will be at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Fairfield Dec. 6 and at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Vacaville the next night.
Trottier’s admiration for the piece has not waned over the years. He is excited and said that this year just may be the best yet.
“It brings me a lot of satisfaction and still gives me goosebumps,” Trottier said.

Reach Fairfield writer Tony Wade at [email protected]

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