Hear snazzy sounds of the season with Wild Rose Chorale & Friends

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Hear songs of the season – always with a snazzy twist – when the Wild Rose Chorale presents its Wild Rose Chorale & Friends holiday concerts, Dec. 9 and 11.

Joining the eight-voice a cappella ensemble for the annual all-ages choral program are the Summertime Singers, directed by Colleen Johnson, and the Port Townsend Youth Chorus, directed by Leslie Lewis. Lewis also leads the Wild Rose Chorale.

Performances are planned for 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9 and 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 11 at First Presbyterian Church, 1111 Franklin St., Port Townsend.

The Wild Rose Chorale, now in its 24th year, is known for its lush harmonies and playful arrangements of both classic and new songs.

“These concerts, a holiday tradition, are a rich offering of variety and voices, from the very young to well-seasoned singers,” said Wild Rose Chorale member JES Schumacher.

The Wild Rose Chorale’s newest member, Doug Rodgers, said that all the groups add different kinds of music to the mix.

On the program are some familiar Christmas tunes such as “We Three Kings,” “Deck the Halls” and “Silent Night,” but it’s a sure bet that audiences have never heard the standards quite like the arrangements performed by Wild Rose.

A cappella fans might recognize three arrangements made popular by the trending a cappella group Pentatonix, a young ensemble that has contributed to a new resurgence in a cappella music.

The singer’s instrument is always at the ready. “I like a cappella singing because you can just do it,” said Rodgers. “There’s nothing to carry around except the voice that you already have with you.”

Admission is a suggested $15 donation at the door. For more information, call 385-1402, email

wildrosechorale@gmail.com, visit

wildrosechorale.org or “like” the group on Facebook.

“We’ll be bringing you a big dose of holiday spirit!” Schumacher said.