A divorced woman moves to a new city, trying to build her life again. She joins the choir of a local church and is inspired by the choirmaster, a curmudgeonly old gentleman who will accept nothing but perfection from his group. As Christmas approaches and the choir practices for a performance of Handel's Messiah, issues of racism, ageism, accusations against a young choir member as well as a health issue with the director himself, threaten to undermine the performance.