The Chilton Civic Chorale and Pops will kick off the Christmas season early with a party at the Whistle Stop Coffee and News Saturday evening, Aug. 15, at 7. Anyone interested in singing with the Chorale or playing with the Pops is invited and encouraged to attend.

The Chilton Civic Chorale, now in its 16th year, is a community choral group composed of singers from Chilton and surrounding counties who come together to produce several music programs each year including “Carols” in the Christmas season and “Praises” in the spring. The Chorale and Pops have also brought several Broadway-style musicals to the stage in recent years, including The Music Man, South Pacific, My Fair Lady and Guys and Dolls.

For the last two concerts (“Carols 2008” and “Praises 2009”), the Chorale has been joined by the singers from the Central Alabama Performing Arts (CAPA), and it is hoped that this joint effort will continue. These two groups, performing together, produce a full, rich sound that has gained compliments from audiences across the county.

The Chilton Pops, the instrumental branch of the organization, not only accompanies the Chorale for most of its shows, but also produces “Moonlight Serenade,” an evening of dinner and big-band swing music, each spring.

The groups’ annual Christmas program, “Carols,” is scheduled for Dec. 4 and 5 this year. While much of the music, both sacred and secular, will be familiar to audiences, Chorale music director Brannon Littleton has written several new Christmas compositions, which will be previewed at the Aug. 15 event.

Vocal rehearsals will begin Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. in the choir room at Clanton First United Methodist Church. Singers who are unable to attend the party at the Whistle Stop are encouraged to come to this rehearsal. For new singers, brief, informal vocal auditions, by voice part, not solo, will be conducted early in the rehearsal time. Singers are not required to read music but should be able to hear and follow the part for which they are auditioning. Instrumental rehearsals will be announced at a later date.

For additional information, call Ann Mims at Peoples Southern Bank (755-2240) or Mike Curry at Whistle Stop Coffee and News (755-8700).