For the Reporter

Join the Rainier Youth Choirs’ for its holiday concert, “Ring Out, Wild Bells,” set for 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Kent United Methodist Church, 11010 SE 248th St.

The concert will feature six ensembles of more than one-hundred talented local youth. A tradition, the RYC will include audience sing-a-longs of familiar carols, and RYC alumni will be invited on stage to sing some holiday favorites with current members.

The program includes traditional favorites such as: John Rutter’s “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day”; G. F. Handel’s “How Beautiful Are the Feet” from Messiah; Wilhousky’s “Carol of the Bells”; and seasonal arrangements including Marc Hafso’s “There is no Rose of Such Virtue”; Stratton’s arrangement of “Patapan”, a new composition by Stephen Main entitled “The Darkest Midnight in December” featuring Julia Swienty of Covington on celeste; and Lindbergh High School’s Sarah Harkness adds her virtuoso flute to an arrangement of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” by Timothy Bandy.

The finale, Jim Papoulis’s new “Sing for Peace,” will include all 100-plus RYC singers with handbells, djembe, flute and glockenspiel.

“And we’ve even got a bit of jazz and barbershop, too,” said Leora Schwitters, RYC’s artistic director.

A “cookie mingle” follows the concert.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors/students (12 and older), $5 for children younger than 12, if purchased in advance (available at www.RainierYouthChoirs.org). If not sold out, tickets also will be available at the door for $15/$12/$7, respectively, starting at 2:15 p.m. All ticket prices are listed as a suggested minimum donation amount.

Colla Voce also will perform on the Dec. 11 Argosy Christmas Ship, departing at 7 p.m. from Des Moines (www.argosycruises.com).

Rainier Youth Choirs is a nonprofit, community-based choral performance and music education sponsored in part by the Kent Arts Commission and 4 Culture.

Singers in grade two and up, who wish to join RYC in January, can schedule an audition through Dec. 15. Visit www.RainierYouthChoirs.org for more information.