The Bay de Noc Choral Society rehearses for its annual Christmas concert, set for Dec. 7 concert at Bethany Lutheran Church. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

ESCANABA — The Bay de Noc Choral Society has been rehearsing over the past few months for its annual Christmas concert, set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, in Bethany Lutheran Church, 202 S. 11th St. in Escanaba.

The first half of the performance will be five settings of “O Magnum Mysterium,” an ancient text about the nativity that has been put to music by various composers over the centuries.

“And then the second half of the concert is just a variety of sacred and secular Christmas pieces,” Bay de Noc Choral Society Artistic Director Ann Wood said.

John Ignatowski will be the accompanist at the organ.

A hand bell choir will join the vocalists for two pieces, and select instrumentalists — including a brass quartet — will have moments as well.

Audience members will be invited to sing along for at least one song.

The entire concert is expected to be slightly more than an hour.

The Bay de Noc Choral Society began as the Gladstone Choral Society, which performed alongside the Bay de Noc Orchestra in 1975. In 1978, the choir changed its name to the Bay de Noc Choral Society.

Wood has been the director for about the past 32 years.