NEWBURYPORT — The Newburyport Choral Society (NCS) will perform its annual spring concert on Saturday evening, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday afternoon, May 5 at 4 p.m. at the new Pentucket Regional High School Auditorium, 24 Main St., Route 113, in West Newbury. 

The concert, titled “Resilience and Hope,” will present some of the most passionate choral music ever written celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the redeeming power of hope.

The performances feature Maurice Duruflé’s glorious “Requiem” and compositions of 20th- and 21st-century female composers from the U.S. and abroad.  

“The Duruflé ‘Requiem’ is peaceful and chant-like in some parts, yet exciting and bold in others,” NCS President Vicki Bushey says. “All the pieces in this concert convey a sense of strength and hope — just what we need to recharge our spirits.”

Another piece, “Spring in My Hometown,” arranged by contemporary composer Hye-Young Cho, is about the feelings that get stirred when people recall where they grew up. The arrangement for this piece was made possible by a grant from Resilient Newburyport, a city project that supports climate change awareness, readiness, and involvement.

The chorus will be accompanied by an 18-piece orchestra, including strings, trumpets, timpani, harp, and organ. Two vocal soloists, mezzo soprano Katherine Maysek and baritone Will Prapestis, will also be featured in the concert.  

“NCS is fortunate to be able to bring great choral music with orchestra to the Merrimack Valley,” Bushey says. “As a chorus we are inspired by this beautiful music, and we look forward to sharing this with our audiences.”  

For information and tickets, visit tickets.chorusconnection.com/nbptcs/events/1008