Sequim Gazette staff

Yet again the Peninsula Singers present a program of some of the world’s most famous and challenging choral music.

They’ll perform their spring show at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 2, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., with much of the show focused on Austrian composer Anton Bruckner’s work.

“It’s really some of the finest music you’ll ever hear,” says director Dewey Ehling, who continues to lead the group after 28 years.

Three anthems for the spring program come from Bruckner — “Christus Factus est,” “Virga Jesse” and “Ave Maria.” Ehling says there have been dozens of anthems titled “Ave Maria” and four have been selected for this concert.

In 1915, Sergei Rachmaninoff composed music for the Russian Orthodox service, “All Night Vigil” which consists of 15 anthems with three selected for the show — “Ave Maria,” “Glory Be To God on High” and “Lord, Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant Depart in Peace,” which retired German opera singer Robin Reed, a tenor, sings in Russian with pronunciation assistance from Mara Fosnes.

More Bruckner highlights the second half of the concert beginning with his anthem “Locus Iste” followed by “Te Deum,” a five-part presentation of the famous praise anthem in Latin. An English translation will be provided, Ehling said.

Soloists include Cynthia Webster, Trent Pomeroy, Hannah Hockett, Vicki Helwick, Joel Yelland, Ray Chirayath, Karen Pritchard, Pat Witt, Barbara Hughes, Ron Corrado, Larry Albertson, John Silver, Lorenzo Reyes and Reed. Linda Dowdell accompanies the group on the piano.

Ehling said most of the group returns following their November show.

“They are doing a great job with it,” he said. “It’s difficult work but that’s what we live for.”

Tickets for the show cost $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students. They are available at Elliott’s Antique Emporium in Port Angeles, Hart’s Fine Books in Sequim and the church’s doors. Visit www.peninsulasingers.org for more information.