ROCKPORT – The 38th season of Down East Singers has begun and it's not too late to join! Rehearsals are held Tuesday nights at Nativity Lutheran Church, 179 Old County Road, Rockport. New singers are asked to have voice-placement checks. The ensemble's conductor is Anthony Antolini. Jennifer McIvor will return in her eighth season as piano accompanist.

This year's December concerts are entitled "A Celtic Christmas." The repertoire will include choral music from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Cornwall by John Rutter, Charles Villiers Stanford, Fiontán Ó Cearbhaill, Michael McGlynn and David Willcocks. A special feature of this semester's music will be collaboration with conductor and arranger Desmond Earley of University College, Dublin, Ireland. Dr. Earley will coach five of his own arrangements of Irish and Scottish music (in English and Gaelic) in preparation for Down East's concerts at St. Columba's Episcopal Church in Boothbay Harbor on Thursday, December 7 and at Rockport Opera House on Sunday, December 10.

The spring semester for Down East Singers will include a Memorial Day concert entitled "One Nation Indivisible" featuring Vineet Shende's "E Pluribus Unum", Mohammed Fairouz's "Different Ways to Pray" and John Rutter's "Requiem" with soprano soloist Emma Hallundbaek and Mozart Mentors Orchestra.

Down East Singers' usual membership is about 70, and residents from throughout Midcoast Maine participate. It is open to all community members, and new singers are welcome. Sight-reading skills are desired but not required, as long as an ability to match pitch accurately is demonstrated. Singers are expected to work on their music at home between weekly rehearsals. The membership fee is $65 per semester and high school singers sing for free. This semester singers are asked to pay $30 for their music if they can afford it. Financial aid is available for those who need it.

More information is available at http://www.downeastsingers.org or by calling (207) 619-0413.