The Lancaster Chorale, a 95-member vocal ensemble, will perform on Friday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 3 p.m. at the Lititz Church of the Brethren, 300 W. Orange St., Lititz. Doors will open 30 minutes before each concert.

The concert - titled "Hallelujah! Amen!" - will include four "Hallelujah" choruses, one each from Beethoven and Bach, and two by George Frederic Handel, including the one from "Messiah." Each member of the audience will be given the sheet music and be encouraged to join the choir in singing the "Hallelujah" chorus from "Messiah."

The rest of the program will include both classical and traditional church music, some of which will have a Christmas theme. Holiday pieces will include "Christmas Day" by Gustav Holst, "the Alfred Burt Carols," and "O Holy Night." The final piece of the concert will be "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" by Lutkin, and the choir will surround the audience to provide an immersive experience.

Bruce Gerlach is the musical director of the chorale, and the upcoming programs will mark his fourth concert with the group. Accompaniment will be provided by Jan Stauffer at the piano and by Jonathan Jones at the organ. The guest soloists will be Jeffrey and Abigail Martin, voice faculty members at Lancaster Bible College. A 30-piece professional orchestra will also participate.

The concert is free and open to the public. A freewill offering will be received to help with expenses.

The Lancaster Chorale is a multi-generational, non-auditioned group that endeavors to sing high-quality choral classics, many of which are sacred. Gerlach stated that the ensemble is a hybrid, somewhere between a semi-professional choir with auditioned soloists, often performing highly advanced music, and an all-inclusive community choir that prefers to sing a less complex style of music. To learn more, visit http://www.lancasterchorale.org.