The Lititz Area Community Choir's upcoming presentation of "A Celtic Christmas" promises to be an event worth singing about.

"We're trying to present festive, holiday music that is familiar to audience members," said Debbie Kline-Smith, the choir's director. "(The concert) takes them on a journey of another style of music, which is very popular right now. People seem to enjoy that style of music, and I thought it would be great to bring a different style of music to Lititz. We're doing it in English, but this style of music makes it a different feel for the holidays. I think people will leave there feeling ready for Christmas."

The Lititz Area Community Choir, Warwick Alumni and Friends will perform "A Celtic Christmas" at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22, at a new venue, Warwick High School's 1,400-seat Performing Arts Center, 301 W. Orange St., Lititz. The event is free to attend, tickets can be obtained at the door on the night of the concert and a freewill offering will be accepted.

The performance is expected to last about 70 minutes.

"We're singing traditional Christmas songs with a Celtic flair," said Kline-Smith. "When the audience walks in, bagpipes will be playing so they get a feel for the music. The order of songs grows and builds. There's an exciting opening number, a very upbeat piece. Then we do something a little lighter. Soloists are scheduled to sing in the middle of the program, and then the choir sings the last three selections, including 'Auld Lang Syne.'"

In addition to the 90-member Lititz Area Community Choir, the concert will feature soloists Matt Hehnly, Rachel Moury and Lauren Epps, as well as a duet by Gannon Ziegler and Jacob Soslow. The ambiance of the event will be enhanced by the two-bagpipers-one-drum Ceol Neamh Pipe Band and the talents of dancers sprinkled throughout.

"Singing brings great joy to the people performing and listeners," said Kline-Smith. "Music brings people together like no other art form. Sometimes we don't know what the music is doing for us, but it is definitely doing it. There's a warmth that comes from people being together at a performance."

Since the middle of September, the choir has been rehearsing and practicing at Brunnerville United Methodist Church for 90 minutes each Thursday to prepare for its performance.

"A lot of these singers are very dedicated," said Kline-Smith. "I think the joy of singing is with them, maybe since they started. They feel joy in the performance. I think it's important to them to be involved with something they've always loved. Many of them appreciate the education behind it."

"It's people from all walks of life, and it's great to see them all come together," she added. "It's very enjoyable to see that mix of people."

"A Celtic Christmas" will be the choir's third holiday concert since being formed in September of 2022, and fifth overall. The choir is currently formulating plans to present a rock 'n' roll-themed concert in the spring of 2025.

"Our goal is to always sing with our best quality of sound," said Kline-Smith, a former longtime music educator in the Warwick School District. "The community has really come out to support us. I think it's becoming a tradition because they know we're striving for excellence. When people see quality, they're going to want to come back."