RainShadow Chorale presents its fall concert program, “A Heaven Full of Stars,” in two local afternoon performances on Nov. 13 and 19, with a third concert in Port Angeles on Nov. 20.

Rebecca Rottsolk, the chorale's artistic director and conductor, has chosen the repertoire for the program from a broad range of musical periods and composers, from the early music of Giovanni Gabrieli to music by Brahms and Mendelssohn through folk and contemporary compositions and arrangements.

"I knew I wanted our music not to be an escape from real life, but rather be music we could sink our teeth into, texts and songs that would help us be grounded in tumultuous times and uplift and inspire both singers and audience,” said Rottsolk of the program.

“Come to the Woods,” a new work by Jake Runestad, is based on words of John Muir, and follows his adventure into the woods and climbing a tree during a storm “for a wider look.”

“Stars” by Latvian composer Eriks Esenvalds takes its text from a Sara Teasdale poem in which she describes the majesty of the night sky, accompanied by tuned wine glasses.

“If there is one text that sums up the ‘why’ of our concert, it would be the opening lines from the Rabindranath Tagore text used in ‘My Song,’ also by Esenvalds,” said Rottsolk. “‘This song of mine will wind its music around you like the fond arms of love. This song of mine will carry your sight into the heart of things like a faithful star in the dark night over your road!’”

Chorus member Weezie Jenkins led some interested singers in “pinging” their own wine glasses for pitch.

“The tuning process, adding water to the glasses, was really fun and interesting, and the finished sound is amazing,” said Jenkins.

A poem by Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) – “A Prayer for a Child” – was the inspiration for a hauntingly beautiful arrangement by Estonian composer Pärt Uusberg.

The colorful program concludes with John Rutter’s “When Icicles Hang,” a set of five wintry songs.

RainShadow pianist Lisa Lanza is assisted by Sharon Snel and Tirzah Small on flute, and Anne Krabill and Nancy Reis on oboe.

The first concert is set for 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 13 at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 45 Redeemer Way, Chimacum. That is followed by a concert at 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 609 Taylor St., Port Townsend.

The final concert starts at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Lopez Ave., Port Angeles.

For the Chimacum and Port Townsend concerts, tickets may be purchased at Crossroads Music, 2100 Lawrence St. or at the door. Entrance is by a $20 suggested donation ($10 for students ages 10-18).

For the Nov. 20 performance in Port Angeles, admission is by a $15 donation at the door.

For more information, call 379-3458 or visit

rainshadowchorale.org.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Port Townsend Arts Commission.