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The Stockbridge Festival Chorus annual Christmas concert will celebrate the 80th birthday of composer John Rutter by performing his Magnificat on Saturday, December 13, 3:00 pm at The First Congregational Church of Stockbridge.

Sir John Rutter is an English composer, conductor, editor and arranger whose works are frequently performed by choral groups around the world, including his popular Requiem and this Magnificat, which was composed in 1990. Other anthems to be performed at the Christmas concert include works by Bob Chilcott and John Gardner.

Stockbridge Festival Chorus (SFC) was founded in 1987 by Penna Rose, who was the music director at First Congregational Church at that time, to broaden the church music program.  Currently SFC numbers 55 singers from the wider Berkshire community and is conducted by Tracy Wilson. The hour-long Christmas concert will be accompanied by Aaron Likness, piano; Ed Lawrence, organ; Bailey Forfa on timpani and Hugo Pizarro-Gundelfinger on percussion.Soprano soloist for the Magnificat is Jordan Rose Lee. Lee earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Western Connecticut State University. At WCSU she was featured as a soloist with the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers and played several leading roles in the Opera Ensemble’s productions. She was the singer of choice for the composition students at WCSU, where she debuted several pieces, has been a soloist with Crescendo, Gaudeamus, St. John’s Choir, Connecticut Lyric Opera (Young Artist Program), Composer’s Choir, and St. Andrew’s Music in the Nave.  She is the soprano section leader and soloist for South Church Chancel Choir in New Britain, CT. Lee is a Speech and Language Pathologist and works with young children and families with communication disorders.

Admission for the concert is a recommended donation of $20 and $10 for members of other Berkshire choruses, payable at the door. People age 18 and under are free.