The Bach and Handel Chorale, Festival Orchestra, and guest soloists will bring the music of Bach and Handel to listeners at the Easter concert April 6 at 3 p.m. in historic St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 21 Race St., Jim Thorpe.

Three of the guest soloists have sung with the chorale in previous concerts: Heidi Hayes, soprano; Jennifer Brown-Laubach, alto; and Richard Johnson, bass-baritone. Joining the chorale as tenor is Jeffrey Manns.Johann Sebastian Bach's "Easter Oratorio" BWV 249, sung in the original German, leads the concert. It is immediately followed by "Lord in Thee have I Trusted," a selection from the George Frideric Handel's "Dettingen Te Deum."Continuing with selections from its namesakes, the chorale sings the Opening Chorus of Cantata BWV 149 "Man singet mit Freuden Vom Sieg …" and "Hallelujah! Amen!" from "Judas Maccabaeus" by Handel.In the second half of the concert, the premiere performance of "A Song for Laura" will be presented in loving memory of Laura Sheard.It was composed by Maestro Randall Douglas Perry. Laura, the daughter of Eugene E. and Carol (Eckard) Sheard, grew up in Jim Thorpe and was known for her vibrant personality. In addition, she was a most promising graduate student in pharmacology at the University of Washington.She and her boyfriend lost their lives in a tragic automobile accident in Seattle, Wash. in November of 2011.Soloists Hayes and Johnson will perform Sir John Stainer's "I Am the Alpha and Omega," an anthem for Trinity-tide, with the chorale.In addition to sacred music, which the chorale sings seeking to preserve the music of the great masters, Maestro Perry has written, arranged and orchestrated other secular pieces. His brother, Tim Perry, a rock, blues, and ballad guitarist, and Rob Beck, drummer, both from the band Becky and the Beasts, will accompany the orchestra and Maestro Perry on piano for "The Long and Winding Road" by The Beatles, and Randall Perry's own "For All the Lonely Hearts that Never End."Tickets are available at Dimmick Memorial Library, 64 Broadway, Jim Thorpe; Nutritional Needs, 105 Broadway, Jim Thorpe; by mail at the Bach and Handel Office at 810 Carbon Ave., Jim Thorpe, 18229; or call the office at (570) 325-4794; or online at

http://www.lvartsboxoffice.org.Audience members can enjoy dinner at a 15 percent discount the day of the concert. For more information, visit

http://www.bhchorale.org/.