Lehighton High School's choral department will be celebrating its past with a 100th anniversary concert Saturday night.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium and will feature alumni ranging from ages 18 to 70 will be joining members of the current chorus for performances.At a time when many districts facing budget cuts look quickly at eliminating music programs, chorus director Jessica Schafer anticipates Saturday will be a special night."We are fortunate to have a program that we can say has been around for 100 years," she said. "It's exciting to see alumni from all different ages coming together and celebrating this occasion through a shared love of music. It's exciting to hear stories from how music has impacted past students' lives and how their experiences in chorus are memories that they still remember fondly today."Candace Malkowicz, one of the alumni in Saturday's show, relishes the opportunity to get back on the stage where she created many memories."I feel incredibly fortunate to partake in a concert celebrating 100 years of the high school choir," she said. "Not many schools are as lucky as us to have a long-running music program. It is truly magnificent to see people of all ages coming together to express their love of music with some great pieces."Practices with the alumni and current chorus combined began at the beginning of April.Alumni were provided practice tracks to work on the music independently, and some who live out of the area will be joining the group for the first time on the day of the concert.The show will not only feature past chorus members, but provide a valuable learning experience for current students, Schafer said."I'm always trying to challenge the students to find value in what they are doing and to better themselves each day," she said. "I think seeing the alumni coming back to participate in this event helps the students to be able to reflect on what kind of footprint they want to leave behind at the high school and in the music program. They are also able to see the profound impact that music has had on the lives of those older than them and that it's something they carried with them into their future. Many of these alumni still incorporate music or performing into their lives in some way even if it's not part of their profession.The concert is a collection of songs that Schafer felt represented the past 100 years of music."There is something that hopefully every generation can enjoy," she said, "ranging from traditional American folk tunes to the Beatles to Lady Gaga. There is a mixture of everything."A basket raffle before the concert in the lobby begins at 6 p.m. to benefit the choral boosters. The raffle will include tickets to Penn's Peak concerts, gift certificates from local restaurants, and various assorted baskets.The high school art show will also be taking place in the lobby in conjunction with the concert from 5:30 to 8 p.m.