The performance will be accompanied by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, with Marin Alsop conducting. Vaneese Thomas will take the mezzo-soprano solo part in the concert, with Lewis-Evans (The Drowsy Chaperone, Dessa Rose, Once on This Island) singing soprano and de Haas (Marie Christine, Rent) singing tenor.

The schools whose choirs will be featured in the concert are Bayside High School,? Edward R. Murrow High School,? Fordham High School for the Arts,? Frank Sinatra School of the Arts,? Songs of Solomon and? Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts. Select students from each school will take part in a special songwriting workshop; their compositions will be performed in a special concert Nov. 21 at 3 PM.

The Gospel Messiah was developed by Alsop and premiered in New York in 1993 with The Concordia Orchestra. It mixes Handel's classical holiday standard "Hallelujah Chorus" with jazz, gospel, rock and R&B. This project is presented by Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute.

Carnegie Hall is located at 154 West 57th Street. For tickets to Too Hot to Handel, call (212) 247-7800 or visit carnegiehall.org. Tickets to the concert featuring the student-written compositions are free and will be distributed on the day of the performance.