In January 2006 and again in 2007, Rackham Symphony Choir thrilled audiences in the Windy City with powerful performances of Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah. Suzanne Mallare Acton and Rackham Symphony Choir were invited to perform the Chicago premiere of RSC's signature piece in a concert produced by the Auditorium Theatre. Read the reviews. The concert was presented in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. Over 150 artists representing diverse ethnicities, religions and backgrounds shared the stage in a celebration of Dr. King's dream and a testament to his legacy.

The performance, under the baton of RSC's acclaimed Music and Artistic Director Suzanne Mallare Acton, featured soloists Rodrick Dixon, Victor Trent Cook, Alfreda Burke, a 45-piece orchestra and 117 member choir. Detroit's Rackham Symphony Choir joined forces with Old St. Patrick's choir of Chicago under the direction of Bill Fraher. Rod Dixon soared, Victor Trent Cook sizzled and Alfreda Burke sparkled, bringing the audience to their feet many times during the performance.

Alvin Waddles, Marion Hayden, David Taylor, Fred Hughes, James Simonson and Robert Tye, the rhythm section from Detroit cast of Too Hot to Handel, combined with 36 of Chicago's best musicians to form the classical and jazz orchestras that share the stage in this unique fusion of musical styles. The strings sang, the rhythm section rocked and the jazz band jumped under the direction of Suzanne Mallare Acton. Featured soloists included Alvin Waddles, Marion Hayden, David Taylor, Bill Overton, Fred Hughes, Robert Tye, John Wojciechowski, Tracy Kirk, Alexa Muhly, Danny Barber and David Vaughn,

Rackham Symphony Choir thanks co-arrangers Gary Anderson and Bob Christianson for creating Too Hot to Handel; Brett Batterson, Auditorium Theatre, Friends of Too Hot to Handel and LaSalle Bank for the vision and support to introduce Chicago audiences to Too Hot to Handel; and Old St. Patrick's Church Choir, Palmer House Hilton, Hyatt Regency and Chief O'Neil's for their warm reception and generous hospitality.

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"When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing..."
Dr. King, I Have a Dream Speech,
August 28, 1963.