Chorale, orchestra concerts planned

The Pend Oreille Chorale and Orchestra continue to offer free concerts to North Idaho, now in their 33rd year.

The upcoming Christmas programs will be held at First Lutheran Church, 526 S. Olive in Sandpoint, in mid-December. The first concert will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12; with a second concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. A reception will follow each performance.

The first half of the concert is chorale only, singing uplifting seasonal music from the 16th century to the 21st century. Many styles and treatments of carols are set to music. The orchestra follows with a lovely descriptive piece by J. Massenet, followed by the complete “Symphony No. 5” by Franz Schubert.

"We are all enjoying playing the symphony,” said director Mark Reiner. "It is a rather light classical piece; three of the movements are rhythmic and move along with a good tempo. The second movement is a contrasting calm adagio.”

Closing the concert will be “In the Silence, the Star,” a composition with both the orchestra and chorale together. The piece was composed around 2015 by Reiner.

“I wanted this piece to bring through the Christ energy to all of the audience,” said the composer.

While there are numerous events going on at this time, Chorale and orchestra members invited the community to add the free concerts at the First Lutheran Church to their calendar. This is where they will hear their volunteer friends and neighbors of the Pend Oreille Chorale and Orchestra.

All in the chorale and orchestra thank the Seventh-day Adventist Church for allowing the groups free rehearsal space for many years, and the First Lutheran Church for allowing us to use their building for the performances.