The Wild Rose Chorale, the Port Townsend Youth Chorus and the Townsend Bay Ringers will welcome the holiday season during two performances of the “Have Yourself a Wild Rose Christmas” concert.

The first concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7, and the second will be at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 9. Both will be at First Presbyterian Church, 1111 Franklin St., in Port Townsend.

Admission is by donation. For more information, visit wildrosechorale.org or call 360-385-1402.

“Many folks see this as the true start of the Christmas season,” said Al Thompson, who sings bass for the chorale. “Wild Rose Chorale, the children and the bells combine for a truly festive and uniquely small-town, yet quality, celebration of the holidays.”

Leslie Lewis, who directs Wild Rose and the Youth Chorus and plays in the bell choir, said she loves including kids and bells on the program since they provide a change in texture to the unaccompanied sounds of the adult singers.

“Plus, giving students an opportunity perform is part of our Wild Rose mission statement ‘to further the musical education of young choral musicians,’ ” she said.

In keeping with that goal, two of Lewis’ piano students, Leona Lee and Orion Pendley, will accompany the youth singers.

“Both are experienced ensemble musicians who are now taking that next step in their musical education to serve as a choral accompanist,” Lewis said. “I’m so pleased.”

“It’s always uplifting and heartwarming to hear children sing, and thrilling to hear teens find their voices,” Wild Rose alto JES Schumacher said.

The Wild Rose Chorale offers an annual scholarship to graduating high school seniors or established college students who want to further their choral music education.

During the concerts, the young people, Wild Rose, and the bell choir – directed by Judy Schussler – all perform their own sets, and they join forces for two finales.

The Wild Rose Chorale lineup includes sacred and secular songs, and everything from traditional carols – always with a twist – to two charts by the popular a cappella group Pentatonix. One is an up-tempo interpretation of “Up on the Housetop,” and the other, a lilting lullaby composed by two of its singer-arrangers called “Light in the Hallway.”

The singers also will try their hand at “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” a tune made popular by Mariah Carey now considered one of the best-selling modern Christmas songs ever, a news release stated.

“Our shortest piece is a mere 30 seconds long, and a bit on the silly side, as some have come to expect from us,” Schumacher said.

Doug Rodgers, who sings bass, tenor or whatever is needed, said singing has been a part of his life since he met his wife-to-be in a college choir in 1964.

“Singing today in Port Townsend is wonderful because there are so many possibilities and opportunities,” Rodgers said. “I love that Wild Rose has challenged my singing into new directions, and I love the positive way that people respond to us.”