The Lehigh Valley Chorale will be joined for its 10th anniversary concert by the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra.

Lehigh Valley Chorale presents its “10th Anniversary Concert: The Road Home,” 2 p.m., 7 p.m. May 9, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown.

“This 10th anniversary concert celebrates where we came from and where the Chorale is going,” says Nicholas Sienkiewicz, Lehigh Valley Chorale Artist Director and Conductor.

“We wanted a title that not only recognized our past but also looked towards the future,” Sienkiewicz says.

The concert comprises two segments. The first segment includes selections with accompaniment by the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra. The second segment includes a cappella works with piano and rhythm section.

The orchestra is featured in George Frideric Handel’s “Zadok the Priest,” composed in 1727 for the coronation of King George II.

Says Sienkiewicz, “Some of the pieces selected for this concert were favorites of our founding Artistic Director Edward Milisits (1953-2022), which includes this coronation anthem.

“One of my favorites of this concert is ‘All of Us,’ which comes from the fusion oratorio ‘Considering Matthew Shepard’ by composer Craig Hella Johnson,” Sienkiewicz says.

Johnson’s oratorio was created in response to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, 21, which was determined to be a hate crime. The movement is characterized by a Southern gospel feel and “asks the audience to consider being kind, compassionate and open. It is the best way to move forward when times are difficult,” says Sienkiewicz.

“Way Over in Beulah Lan’” by American composer Stacey Gibbs is an African-American spiritual about a journey from oppression to liberation.

“We also present our first commissioned work, ‘The Forest Aways Sings,’ by composer and conductor Dominick DiOrio. The piece is like a bedrock of the Lehigh Valley Chorale in that everyone can and should sing,” Sienkiewicz says.

“One of the quotes from Ed Milisits was ‘If only the best birds in the forest would sing then the forest would be a very quiet place.’

“The text of our commissioned work relates ‘If only the best singers raise their voice, the world would actually be a very sad place, a very quiet place.’

“The piece is about leaning into choir and community and recognizing that everyone’s voice deserves to be heard,” says Sienkiewicz.

Additional concert selections are by composers Johannes Brahms, Felix Mendelssohn, Stephen Sondheim, Christopher Tin and Charles Albert Tindley.

Says Sienkiewicz, “In addition to the great music, we have a special 10th anniversary video which includes interviews with members of our chorus.

“This concert is about rejoicing. Between the classical and contemporary selections, these are pieces that are well-known and that bring a lot of joy or connection or nostalgia for folks,” Sienkiewicz says.

The Lehigh Valley Chorale is a non-auditioned community choir of 175 members.

Sienkiewicz is Music Director for the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra 2025-2026 season.

“10th Anniversary Concert: The Road Home,” Lehigh Valley Chorale, 2 p.m., 7 p.m. May 9, Miller Symphony Hall, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown. Tickets: at the box office; 610-432-6715; https://millersymphonyhall.org/events/

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