The Northern Lights Choir (Photo provided — Mark Kurtz)

SARANAC LAKE — Northern Lights Choir will host its Winter Concert at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8 at St. Bernard’s Church.

Under the direction of Helen Demong, Friday’s concert will feature a warm message of community, “The Road Home,” and be a performance of choral pieces across the spectrum of time and genre. This program will feature a variety of styles from traditional holiday music and songs of different cultures.

The group will open with an acapella arrangement of “Lo How a Rose.” The group will present a new piece by David Childs called “A Blessing,” set to the poetry of Sara Teasdale.

NLC respectfully performs music from various cultures, religions and languages. The women of the choir sing a folk song from Cape Breton, “Song for the Mira.” The full choir will sing a Hebrew piece, “Ani Ma’Amin,” and will add something special to the traditional Canadian Christmas carol, “The Huron Song.”

The performance will bring together Kimberly Weems’ and Christopher Gould’s voices, singing a duet in a new style.

Beth Gallagher, a highly respected professional quilter, donated a gorgeous quilt to benefit Northern Lights Choir. Raffle tickets will be available before the concert and during intermission $3. A ticket or two for $5. You will not want to miss a chance to win this heirloom of a quilt. Gallagher is pictured with Choir Director Helen Demong. (Photo provided)

The group will also perform a song by one of its favorite composers, Morten Lauridsen, “O Nata Lux,” from his major work, “Lux Aeterna.”

Drew Benware is the accompanist for this concert and his skills are featured prominently on the rousing movement from Haydn’s, Creation, “The Heavens Are Telling.”

NLC likes to feature emerging artists, two Paul Smith’s College students, Tyler Dezago, Ben Parker and their singing partner, Caitlin Kelly, will be featured in a folk song called, “The Black Rodeo.”

The men of the choir will sing “Tell My Father “ from the musical, “The Civil War.”

Rounding out the concert are two favorites: a traditional southern “The Road Home,” and the rousing Americana anthem, “Unclouded Day.”

The evening’s performance at St. Bernard’s Church will bring together local communities through music. To close the concert, NCL will invite the audience to lift their voices with theirs and sing “Angels We Have Heard on High.”

Beth Gallagher, a highly respected professional quilter, has donated a quilt to benefit Northern Lights Choir. Raffle tickets will be available before the concert and during intermission and cost $3 per ticket or two tickets for $5.

Northern Lights Choir is a multi-generational community choir that rehearses and performs high-quality choral music. The choir was launched in January 2013 and draws community singers from Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, Keene Valley, Tupper Lake, Malone and Wilmington as well as students from Paul Smith’s College, North Country Community College and Saranac Lake High School. Its mission is to actively promote the appreciation and enjoyment of singing in an outstanding mixed choral ensemble, to contribute to the well-being of the community and enrich the musical experiences or the Tri-Lakes and surrounding communities. Helen Demong is the artistic director.

Admission is a donation of $10 at the door. Tickets are available presale at Ampersound.