COEUR d'ALENE - The Northwest Sacred Music Chorale season begins on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Kroc Center, with an encore performance on Sunday at 3 p.m.

The program will be led by the chorale's new conductor.

"We're thrilled to have Kent Kimball as our new conductor," said John Empsall, executive director. "He brings a new dynamic to our chorale."

Kimball graduated from the University of Southern California and studied with three of the greatest choral conductors: Charles Hirt, Roger Wagner, and Robert Shaw.

He has conducted the Century Singers, Spokane String Quartet, Hamblen Baroque Chorus, The Westminster Chamber Orchestra, and the Good News Singers in concerts.

Kimball will conduct a program that includes Johann Sebastian Bach's "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen," BWV 51, an exciting duet performed by coloratura soprano and piccolo trumpet. One of Joseph Haydn's greatest works will also be performed, the "Lord Nelson Mass," and George Frideric Handel's "Zadok the Priest," which has had its words spoken or sung at every English coronation for more than a thousand years, will be featured as well. The program concludes with a generous set of gospels/spirituals.

Featured guest artists are soprano Dawn Marie Wolski and Larry Jess, trumpet. Wolski's lyric coloratura has been hailed as "exquisite" by Opera News, and "she delivered lines ... with an elegance that produced chills," according to the Stamford Advocate. Jess has been Principal Trumpet of the Spokane Symphony since 1975 and is a founding member of the Spokane Jazz Society, as well as the Spokane Falls Brass Band.

Also to be featured in the November concerts are baritone Aaron St. Clair Nicholson, mezzo soprano Debbie Ray, and tenor Cody Bray. St. Clair Nicholson made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Schaunard in La Bohme conducted by Placido Domingo. Throughout his career, Aaron has garnered much praise for his portrayals as opera's most well-known characters.

For complete information about the concert season, soloists, the chorale and our artistic director visit www.nwsmc.org.

Tickets by phone: (208) 661-0585