The Tamaqua Area High School Music Department will present its annual Holiday Music Program at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Tamaqua Area Auditorium.

The concert will feature the best in holiday selections presented by students in the Concert Choir, Jazz Chorale, Sr. High Wind Ensemble and the “Raider” Concert Band.

The Wind Ensemble, featuring musicians from grades 9-12, will open the program with “Celtic Carol” arranged for wind ensemble by Robert W. Smith. The concert continues with “Silent Night in Gotham” by Julie Giroux.

The Concert Choir will open the vocal portion of the concert with “In Dulci Jubilo” arranged by Russell Robinson. “A New Noel” is the next selection. This version is a new setting of the traditional text we are all so familiar with over the years. The choir concludes their set with “Jingle Bells with a Jingle Bass” arranged by James Cook.

The “Raider” Concert Band takes the stage opening the second half of the program with “Santa the Barbarian” by Randall Standridge. The band continues with the holiday classic “Carol of the Bells” followed by selections from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” arranged by Michael Brown. “Scenes from the Nutcracker” will close the instrumental portion of the concert.

The Jazz & Concert Chorale will close the program beginning with “Song of Thanksgiving” written by Kenneth Memley. The chorale will next sing “Bethlehem, Bethlehem” by Jay Althouse. A new arrangement of “The Christmas Song” is next followed by everyone’s favorite “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”

The program will conclude with the band and choir coming together to perform the “Voice of Christmas” by James Swearingen.

Accompanists for the choir are Cecilia Ulicny and Debra Sweeney.

The “Raider” Band and Senior High Wind Ensemble are under the direction of Mark E. Beltz and the Concert Choir and Jazz Chorale are under the direction of John D. Buglio.

Doors to the auditorium will open at 6:45 p.m.

There will be an admission charge of $5 for adults and $2 for students and senior citizens.