“We’re in a time when we need to inspire joy and connect people to their childhood,” says Nicholas Sienkiewicz, Artist Director of the Lehigh Valley Chorale.

Lehigh Valley Chorale presents “Songs That Stick - Music That Endures,” 7:30 p.m. May 16; 2 p.m. May 17, First Presbyterian Church, Allentown.

The concert opens with the elegant work “True Colors” by composer and choral artist Saunder Choi, followed by Jennifer Lucy Cook’s “Time,” for which she states “the line between time’s reality and its invention is blurry. We lose time when we try to keep it; we spend time as we try to save it. Time insists upon eluding us.”

Sean Kirchner’s “Angel Band” is a comforting gospel song with images of angels “waiting to bear us away to meet our departed loved ones at the evening of our life.”

The next selections are “songs that stick and bring people back to the first time they sang or heard them,” says Sienkiewicz.

James Erb’s arrangement of the well-known American folksong “Shenandoah” is followed by an original ballad, “Why We Sing,” by Greg Gilpin, and Craig Hella Johnson’s arrangement of the Carly Simon iconic 1989 hit “Let the River Run,” for which Simon won three major awards.

The Chorale then presents two classical pieces, “Lacrimosa” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and “O Fortuna” from Carl Orff’s popular musical setting of 13th century Carmina Burana poems.

Mac Huff’s arrangement of “Louder than Words” derives from Jonathan Larson’s musical, “Tick, Tick ... Boom!,” a story of a struggling composer who questions his career choice.

Additional concert selections include Stacey Gibbs’ arrangement of the spiritual “Soon Ah Will Be Done;” Kirby Shaw’s rendition of Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary;” Eugene Rogers’ adaptation of “Glory” from the motion picture “Selma,” and “No Time” by Susan Brumfield.

“In a time where things feel uncertain, lean into joy. Spend time with family or friends and cultivate joy with music we loved,” says Sienkiewicz.

The Lehigh Valley Chorale is a non-auditioned community choir of more than 150 members which performs an eclectic repertoire of music in many different languages and genres, from classical to show tunes, and everything in between. The organization is committed to performing a diverse set of music by historically marginalized composers.

Lehigh Valley Chorale presents “Songs That Stick - Music That Endures,” 7:30 p.m. May 16; 2 p.m. May 17, First Presbyterian Church, 3231 West Tilghman St., Allentown; Tickets: https://www.lvchorale.org/

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com