The Kutztown Community Choirhosts its 48th annualChristmas Choral Concert Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 W. Main St., Kutztown.
In addition to choral music, several special features will be included on the program. Carl Nygard, internationally known local composer will lead the choir in three of his original compositions, including Alle, Allelu, which had its premier performance by the Kutztown Community Choir in their 2005 Christmas concert. The woodwind quintet, expanded from last year’s quartet, will play two medleys of Christmas carols.
Three selections from John Rutter’s We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Three A Cappella Christmas Carols, arranged by Tom Fettke, including Mary, Did You Know?, will also be sung by the choir.
In a lighter mood are two Audrey Snyder settings of popular Christmas songs: The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) and Our Winter Wonderland (The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, and Winter Wonderland). The delightful Musicological Journey Though The Twelve Days Of Christmas will also be included in the program. This 11-minute journey starts with a Gregorian chant while each successive day finds a different hilarious parody: Handel; Vivaldi; Mozart; Strauss; Tchaikovsky; Wagner and others all make incognito appearances, ending with the twelfth day set to a pseudo-Sousa Stars and Stripes Forever.
A children’s choir, to be directed by Karen Quillman, will also sing several selections. The concert will close with members of the audience being invited to join the choir in singing the traditional Hallelujah! from Handel’s MESSIAH.
Michael Barron will be directing the choir and Greta (Luckenbill) Ertel will be the accompanist.
An art show by Joanne Lapic’s Art in the Afternoon class will be on display in the fellowship hall along with a reception with punch and cookies provided by members of the choir and the art class. There is no admission charge, but an offering will be received for the benefit of the choir’s music fund.