Highlights of the classical music scene include the spring concert of the Concord Chamber Singers and the Lafayette College Choirs’ performance of the music of Christopher Tin.

“This concert is in contrast to our fall performance, which featured Handel’s Messiah,” says David Macbeth, Concord Chamber Singers Artistic Director, adding, “It is time to do some contrasting works.”

Concord Chamber Singers presents “Spring Concert: Living Legends,” 4 p.m. April 25, First Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem.

The concert opens with Daniel Elder’s “Fresh and Fearless,” a commissioned work, based on Sara Teasdale’s poem “May Night,” which captures the energy and wonder of new beginnings of the spring season.

The singers reprise the sixth movement of John Rutter’s requiem, “The Lord is my shepherd,” featuring flutist Carina Cohen, followed by composer Rollo Dillworth’s “United in Purpose,” based on the texts by poet and novelist Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou, addressing themes of hope, unity and social change.

Additional selections include Elaine Hagenberg’s “You Do Not Walk Alone,” accompanied by the Elysium String Quartet; Eric Whitacre’s “Sing Gently,” and “Wondrous Love” by Lehigh Valley-based composer Benedict Sheehan, a three-time Grammy nominee and American Prize Winner.

After intermission, the performance continues with three extended selections for choir and string quartet by Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo, inspired by 16th century Carmelite friar and priest St. John of the Cross’s poem about the soul’s journey toward God. “Dark Night of the Soul” (2010) is a dramatic and uplifting piece which explores passionate spirituality. Gjeilo’s 2011 sequel, “Luminous Night of the Soul,” explores themes of light, love and passion.

The concert closes with “The Lake Isle” (2015), which sets to music W. B. Yeats’ poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” (1888), addressing a heartfelt longing to escape frantic urban life for a peaceful secluded life in nature. The accompanist is guitarist Matt Kuplack.

Says Macbeth, “Some of the works are challenging to perform, but they are fresh, exciting and compelling. This concert is a celebration of the return of beauty to the choral landscape in the 21st century.”

Concord Chamber Singers presents “Spring Concert: Living Legends,” 4 p.m. April 25, First Presbyterian Church, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem; Tickets, at the door; 484-714-0934; https://ccsingers.org/events

Lafayette College Choirs presents “The Drop That Contained the Sea,” 8 p.m. April 25, Williams Center for the Arts, Easton.

“The movements of Christopher Tin’s work ‘The Drop That Contained The Sea’ highlights that water is a shared need and resource across humanity,” says Jennifer Kelly, Lafayette College. Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities.

“Sometimes in the chaotic world in which we live there is shared humanity and every movement of Tin’s work is inspired by experience with that water,” adds Kelly.

The concert theme is based on a suggestion by one of Kelly’s students. “I loved the idea of choosing one major work in its entirety and many of the students recognize Tin as a composer of game music,” says Kelly.

“Each piece does an amazing job connecting with cultures and communities of which we are all a part in addition to educating the students on the various languages,” Kelly says.

In the commissioned work, each of the 10 movements is sung in a different language and deals with water in a different form such as melting snow, mountain streams and the ocean.

Movements and their language are: “Water Prelude,” Proto-Indo-European; “The Drink from God,” Turkish; “Dark Clouds,” Bulgarian; “Come Tomorrow,” Xhosa; “The Heart of Snow,” Mongolian; “Summer Has Gone,” Portuguese; “Goddess of the River,” Sanskrit; “Sirens,” Ancient Greek; “The Storm-Driven Sea,” Old Norse, and “We Overcome the Wind,” Lango.

“Multi-media will provide visuals and translations of the works so the audience remains immersed in the music and at the same time understands what each piece is about,” says Kelly.

Jennifer Kelly received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of California at Los Angeles. As conductor, she has led the Philharmonic Orchestra at the Kadima Conservatory and Los Angeles United Musicians Symphony Orchestra. Under her leadership, the Lafayette Choirs have performed in Italy, Costa Rica, Portugal and Ireland.

Lafayette College Choirs presents “The Drop That Contained The Sea,” 8 p.m. April 25, Williams Center for the Arts, Lafayette College, 317 Hamilton St., Easton. Tickets: Free; https://williamscenter.lafayette.edu/music/

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