The Pennsbury Community Chorus (PCC) is doing an encore five years later! Due to popular demand, the Chorus’ 14th Annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 15th will feature the return of “Missa Carolae,” a choral setting of the Latin Mass set to the music of Christmas carols from several European countries by British composer James Whitbourn.

The mass setting, last performed by the PCC in 2008, will again be under the baton of PCC Music Director James D. Moyer. It will be held in Keller Hall on the West Campus of Pennsbury High School, 608 South Olds Boulevard, Fairless Hills, starting at 3:00pm.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and over, and $6 for students with ID. They can be ordered in advance by calling 215-949-6780 ext. 70975, or purchased at the door just prior to the show. Group tickets for 20 or more are available by phone for a 20% discount.

Moyer, Director of PHS Choral Activities and Coordinator of Vocal/Choral Music K-12, said that while the Whitbourn work is the major concert piece, the afternoon will include well-known Christmas carols, some with invited audience participation, as well as both new and newly-arranged older seasonal works.

“A most unusual feature of this presentation of ‘Missa Carolae,’” Moyer noted, “will be the substitution of a children’s choir for several sections normally sung by a soprano soloist. This role will be taken by the 30-member Select Chorus of the Quarry Hill Elementary School from Yardley under the direction of Kathy Setash. In addition, the Pennsbury High School Chamber choir will join with the Community Chorus in the Mass, as well as take the stage by itself for three seasonal choral pieces.”

Instrumental accompaniment for the concert will be provided by a guest brass ensemble as well as organ and piano. Jason Vodicka, a former Pennsbury High music teacher and current assistant professor of music at Susquehanna University, will play the Allen organ. Playing piano will be Brian Krajcik, a PHS music faculty member. Another PHS music faculty member, Dereck Cressman, will conduct one of the concert’s briefer works, “Awake, Arise and Hail the Morn,” an anthem for voice, brass, percussion and organ arranged by Mack Wilberg. 

Other Christmas songs on the program include “Joy to the World”; “O Come, All Ye Faithful”; “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”; and J.S. Bach’s “Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light” from the “Christmas Oratorio.”