Forty-two students in grades 4 through 6 will take the Towamensing Elementary stage on Thursday for the school’s Spring Chorus Concert.

The concert, starting at 7 p.m., spans eight selections, ranging from a jazz waltz round to a Scottish folk melody, an Emily Dickinson poem set to music, a traditional Japanese text celebrating spring and a pair of Broadway show tunes.

“We’re excited to present a wide range of repertoire,” director Natalie Madeira said.

The concert opens with “A Child of Song,” by Derryl Herring and Andy Beck, written in 5/4 meter with a jazz waltz feel. The program then moves to a Scottish setting, “Over the Sea to Skye,” arranged by Mary Donnelly and George L.O. Strid, which draws on the history of Bonnie Prince Charlie, Charles Edward Stuart, and his defeat. Flute soloist Hailey Pisulak and vocal soloists Seamus Holden and Sydney Gower will perform with the ensemble on that piece.

From Scotland, the chorus turns to American roots with “The Railway Train,” composer Ruth Morris Gray’s setting of Emily Dickinson’s poem of the same name, written with an early American folk feel and piano accompaniment. The program also includes “She Sings,” by Amy F. Bernon, a New York-based composer who uses imagery in her lyrics to describe the feelings of an empathetic young girl.

The chorus will travel to Japan with “Hisakata,” by Victor C. Johnson, a setting of traditional Japanese text that celebrates the arrival of spring. Flute soloist Rosalie Carlson will add to the accompaniment on that number.

The program also features “The Water Is Wide with Bring Me a Little Water Silvie,” arranged by Rollo Dilworth, which weaves a Scottish melody together with an African American spiritual into what the ensemble calls a partner song.

The sixth-grade class will take center stage for “For Good,” from the Broadway musical “Wicked,” by Stephen Schwartz.

“We wanted to make sure all of our large class of sixth graders had a chance to solo in elementary school before they head to the junior high,” Madeira said.

The concert closes with “This Is Me,” from the film musical “The Greatest Showman,” featuring soloists Hailey Glass, Brielle Moyer, Raegan Frable and Kendra Santee.

For Madeira, Thursday’s concert marks a personal milestone.

“I founded the Towamensing Elementary Chorus in my first year at this building in the spring of 2006, making this concert officially my 20th anniversary performance, and a wonderful cap on my 22nd year with the Palmerton Area School District,” she said.

The ensemble has been preparing for the concert since late December. Sopranos and altos each rehearse once per cycle during the school day for 20 minutes, with additional after-school rehearsals held one hour every other week.

“Apart from the joy of making music with the hundreds of students I’ve worked with over the years, one of the best rewards is seeing them continue making music into their high school, college and even adult years,” Madeira said. “Music is a gift that lasts a lifetime and it’s such a blessing to get to share that gift with the children of our community.”

She said she hopes concertgoers leave feeling refreshed.

“We hope our school community will enjoy a chance to relax, unplug, and experience the joy of children making live music,” Madeira said.

She credited broad community support for the program’s continued success. “We are so grateful to be in a community that is so supportive of music,” she said. “From our Music Parents Association, which supports all ensembles 4-12, to our administrators and school board, and our greater community, we’re grateful for our Palmerton fan network.”

Several other district ensembles are also scheduled to perform in the coming weeks. The S.S. Palmer Elementary Chorus performs Tuesday at 7 p.m. at S.S. Palmer Elementary. The Palmerton Cadet Band performs May 7 at 7 p.m. at Palmerton Area High School, followed by the Junior and Senior High Band on May 12 at 7 p.m. and the Junior and Senior High Chorus on May 18 at 7 p.m., both at the high school.