To Ashley McHugh, music speaks straight from the heart.

“Music is a means of language communicating between the soul,” she said.

The sophomore vocal music education major will be performing her first solo at Eastern in the performance of Handel’s “Messiah” tonight.

Members of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra Chorus will join the EIU Concert Choir, accompanied by the Eastern Symphony Chamber Orchestra for the Messiah concert at 7 p.m. in the McAfee South Auditorium.

McHugh, a high soprano, will be performing three recitatives, “There were shepherds abiding in the field,” “And the angel said unto them” and “And suddenly there was with the angel.”

“Messiah,” composed by George Frederick Handel, has been performed for more than 250 years. The lyrics are taken directly from scripture in the Bible.

McHugh said “Messiah” is a spiritual piece that can open one’s eyes.

However, she said, even if one is not religious or believes in another denomination, the musicality is interesting and challenging.

Stacy Negley, alto and senior elementary education major, said no matter what one’s beliefs, Messiah is a beautiful piece of music.

There are three parts to “Messiah,” and when performed in its entirety is three hours long.

Tonight’s performance will only feature 18 of the 53 numbers in Part One.

Richard Rossi, director of orchestral and choral activities, conducts both the EIU Concert Choir and the Illinois Symphony Orchestra Chorus.

Rossi brought 24 members from the Illinois Symphony Orchestra Chorus to make a “nice high-powered” performance.

“It’s one of the finest Messiahs I’ve had the privilege of conducting,” Rossi said.

The concert choir has been practicing for this performance since about October and rehearsed with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra Chorus for the first time Wednesday night.

Several students have performed “Messiah” before. Both McHugh and Negley have performed it twice.

Negley performed it once in high school and once three years ago as part of Eastern’s mixed choir.

Negley said she really likes to sing and any time she is able to perform any music is a learning experience.

Even though she performed “Messiah” three years ago, she is still learning, she said. Now that she is more skilled, Negley said she appreciates it even more.

Rossi said “Messiah” has become a tradition during the holiday season, much like the Nutcracker is.

He said there is no better way to start off the holiday season.

Rossi said his only disappointment is this year’s show cannot be performed in the new Doudna Fine Arts Center but he said he has hope for the next “Messiah” performance.