Christmas might be few months away, but rehearsals for Brentwood’s choral and orchestral performance of Handel’s “Messiah” begin Tuesday, Aug. 14 – and all are welcome to participate.

Susan Stuart, retired choir director at Liberty High School, will lend her expertise as a teacher and director – as she has for the past 10 years – to conducting the performance.

The “Messiah” performance is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St. in Antioch.

Rehearsals (an actual class being offered through the Liberty Adult Ed program) are held Tuesdays beginning Aug. 14 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at Independence High School 929 Second St. in Brentwood. The fee is $20. For more information or to register, call 925 634-2565.

Those who have performed “Messiah” or are good sight-readers need attend only the final rehearsal, scheduled for Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the El Campanil Theatre. Those who wish to contact Stuart directly may call 925-634-3411 or e-mail stuart.susan@gmail.com.