State Assembly, Town Praise Branford’s Retiring Messiah Tenor

Before the start of the 30th anniversary of Branford’s Handel’s Messiah last Friday, state Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr., (pictured) presented Dr. Edward Hull, a tenor, with an honorary citation from the Connecticut General Assembly, commending Dr. Hull for his commitment to music as an opera singer and a teacher for many decades. 

Kennedy praised Dr. Hull for sharing ​“his amazing voice as the tenor soloist for Branford’s production of Handel’s Messiah” for the last 30 years.

Kennedy (pictured), a member of the Messiah chorus, thanked him, Ann Drinan, a longtime member of the Messiah Committee, Conductor Roy Wiseman, and the Branford community ​“for this amazing annual concert!”

The concert was dedicated to Ettie Minor Luckey, Branford Messiah’s founder and cellist (and a Short Beach resident). She died on May 1, 2015.

The orchestra, chorus, and soloists were directed by Roy Wiseman, who feels at home conducting the Messiah, the subject of his doctoral thesis.

Dr. Hull also received a distinguished service award from First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove and the town of Branford for his dedication to the Messiah and its place in Branford’s musical history. Drinan, a violist with the Hartford Symphony and the Messiah orchestra, presented the town’s award to Dr. Hull. Drinan is also a Short Beach resident.

After Dr. Hull, a resident of Branford, gave his final Messiah performance in Branford, the audience stood to applaud and honor him. Besides Dr. Hull, there were soloists Jorell Williams (pictured), a baritone; Lielle Berman, a soprano; and Rebecca Ringle Kamarei, a mezzo-soprano. 

The Messiah was performed on Dec. 22 at the First Congregational Church where Dr. Hull has served as minister of music. The church, located on the Branford Town Green, was packed with music lovers who come each year to listen to the Messiah, Handel’s glorious Christmas Oratorio.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Hull has taught voice and opera at the University of Texas, the University of Denver, and most recently at Central Connecticut State University. He has performed as oratorio soloist with St. Bartholomew’s Church, the Westchester Chorale and the New York Choral Society.

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