The Wartburg Choir, including eight members from the Des Moines area, will perform at St. John’s Lutheran Church Saturday, Oct. 24, as part of the church’s 150^th anniversary celebration.

The free performance begins at 7:30 p.m. The Wartburg Choir also will sing during the church’s 10 a.m. Sunday service.

“The choir has a special place in our hearts, so when we were trying to think of a concert to celebrate this anniversary, they were at the top of the list,” said Pastor Rachel Mithelman, who also is a Wartburg graduate. “They will be here on the next-to-the-last weekend of our celebration; it should be grand.”

Students from the area include:

• ·      Emily Meeker of Altoona
• Kayla Kuethe of Clive
• Abby Singleton of Indianola
• Drew Peeler of Indianola
• Justin Beals of Indianola
• Rachel Zumwalt of Indianola
• Andrew Hoyt of Grimes
• Tyler Davis of Urbandale

The choir will perform a repertoire that includes contemporary works and well-known hymns. Along with Tanzanian composer and Wartburg artist-in-residence Wilfred Mziray, the choir also will collaborate with the church’s children’s choir.

“We are excited to celebrate this anniversary with St. John’s Lutheran and share our music with this congregation,” said Lee Nelson, Patricia R. Zahn Endowed Chair in Choral Conducting and Wartburg Choir director.

Donations will be accepted during the Saturday concert to support the Wartburg Choir.