The NorthWest Women’s Chorale will perform three holiday concerts in December. The "Voices of Light" concert will start at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 525 N. Fifth Ave.,

Sequim; 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at First Congregational Church, 280 S. Spartan Ave., Forks; and 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, at Holy Trinity Church, 301 Lopez Ave., Port Angeles.

"Voices of Light" not only is the name of the concert but also the name of the featured music written by Paul Halley. It will feature flautist Sharon Snel.

The NorthWest Women’s Chorale is a group of 20 women who wanted to sing women’s music that was different from the Sweet Adeline’s barbershop music. The concert includes many pieces that contain the concept of light.

"We do anything the Sweet Adelines don’t," says director Joy Lingerfelt. "They do their kind of music very well and we don’t want to try to compete with them."

The chorale sings music from around the world and in many languages. The women perform new music as well as classical music, old standards and folk music.

A favorite piece came from Lingerfelt’s visit to Estonia. She went into a music store and found a clerk who understood English. Lingerfelt asked for women’s music and was shown several CDs. She brought some home with her and found one by a college group she particularly liked.

However, she could not find the music anywhere she looked. She finally wrote a letter asking the college where she could find the music. It was sent to her by the composer – after he got it published due to her interest.

The chorale started a tradition of combining women’s groups from around the area each spring into Women Sing, which has included groups from Seattle, Port Townsend and Sequim. This year they will include a group from Port Angeles High School. The groups perform individually and together as a large group.

Singers in the group range from music teachers to those who never have sung in a group to many who sang in school or church choirs.

Holly Juskevich says, "We are incredibly blessed to have Joy (Lingerfelt) and Kristen (Quigley Brye, accompanist) who care so much about music. They inspire us to do the best we can."

Lucy Nordwell adds, "We are pushed until the concert to do our best. You can see the progress week by week. Then we enjoy the show with no pressure. We just do our best."

The chorale also will sing at the Christmas tree lighting in Port Angeles at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28.

The chorale would like to expand to 30 members. They recommend attending one of their concerts to see and hear the group, then contacting director Lingerfelt at Director@NWWomensChorale.com for an audition.

Admission for "Voices of Light" is $10 at the door or at www.nwperformingarts.com.

Reach Dana Casey at dcasey@sequimgazette.com