The Gettysburg Choral Society will celebrate its 10th Anniversary Season with “Gloria in excelsis Deo,” a festive pair of Christmas concerts on Saturday, December 5, at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 6, at 3:00 p.m. at the Seminary Chapel, 61 Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg.

The concerts will feature a varied program of Christmas favorites and choral works by composers and arrangers including Mark Hayes, Lloyd Larson, Mark Kellner, Larry Shackley, Eugene Butler, Robert Shaw and Alice Parker, and Adolphe Adam. As always, the chorus will invite the audience to join in a carol sing-along to close each concert and usher in the Christmas season.

The centerpiece of the 10th Anniversary concerts will be the world premiere of “They Sing Gloria,” a newly commissioned work by acclaimed composer Mark Hayes, written especially for The Gettysburg Choral Society. The new composition is scored for chorus, brass and organ, bringing together the full sonority of the chorus with the brilliance of brass and the grandeur of the organ.

“We are thrilled to present this very special commission as part of our 10th Anniversary Season,” said Julie Strickland, Executive Director of The Gettysburg Choral Society. “A world premiere is always an exciting moment for a musical organization, but having a new work written specifically for our chorus makes this performance particularly meaningful.

We look forward to sharing it with our community for the very first time.” Under the direction of John McKay, the performances will also feature Ethan Draper, Assistant Director and Organist, and Christian Keller, Accompanist, along with a professional brass quintet coordinated by Dr. Steven Marx.

The program will span a variety of musical styles and traditions, offering audiences both familiar seasonal favorites and new works as the Choral Society celebrates a decade of bringing exceptional choral music to the Gettysburg community. A $15 suggested donation is requested. No tickets are required.

Winter Auditions

The Gettysburg Choral Society invites experienced singers ages 18 and older to audition on Monday, January 4, or Monday, February 1, 2027. Auditions will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. both evenings by appointment. Stipends may be available to tenors, basses, and sopranos who demonstrate exceptional vocal ability.

Singers should have prior choral experience, be able to read music, and demonstrate vocal proficiency. Rehearsals are held Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. in Gettysburg. To schedule an audition, email julie@gettysburgchoralsociety.org

The Gettysburg Choral Society, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization composed of auditioned singers who utilize their talents to pursue excellence in choral music performance.

For more information about the Gettysburg Choral Society and its 10th Anniversary Season, visit gettysburgchoralsociety.org.