Celebrate the Christmas season as the Kirkland Choral Society rings in its silver anniversary with “Welcome All Wonders,” an evening of glorious traditional carols and beautiful new holiday works by prominent contemporary composers.

Hand bells, oboe, harp, strings, and piano will complement the 90 voice choir under the direction of Dr. Glenn Gregg in evening performances Friday, Dec. 6, at Bastyr University Chapel in Kenmore and Saturday, Dec. 7, at First United Methodist Church in Seattle.

Selections include “Seven Joys of Christmas” by Kirke Mechem and “Hymn to the Eternal Flame” by Stephen Paulus, a tender memorial to holocaust victims, “every memory woven into fire.”

“Hark, The Herald Angels Sing” by Carol Barnett and “Il Est Ne, le Divin Enfant” by Donna Schultz are delightful contemporary settings of these favorite carols.

John Gardner’s lively “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day,” sets an early medieval text in which Christ himself tells the story of his arrival. His birth is “my dancing day.”

The hauntingly beautiful “Dark Night of the Soul” by Ola Gjeilo has an entirely different tone. It is set to a late medieval text by St. John of the Cross, Spanish poet and Catholic mystic.

Bastyr University Chapel is located at 14500 Juanita Drive NN in the heart of St. Edward State Park. First United Methodist Church is located at 180 Denny Way. Both concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior/students. Online at www.kirklandchoralsociety.org or phone (425) 296-0612.