PennWest Clarion music ensembles will join to present a “A Wonderful Christmas” at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 in the auditorium of Marwick-Boyd Fine Arts Center. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature performances by the 36-member Winter Ensemble, 20-member Jazz Band, 36-member Concert Choir and 10-member Recorder Ensemble.

At the conclusion of last year’s football season, Golden Eagles Marching Band director Dr. Andrew Ortega initiated a tradition of working on holiday music to perform at a concert as the Winter Ensemble. This year, band assistant Katherine Custer suggested expanding the event.

“We invited Concert Choir, Jazz Band and Recorder Ensemble to join the band in creating a bigger experience,” Custer said.

Ortega and Concert Choir director Dr. Stephen Johnson, both faculty members in PennWest Department of Visual and Performing Arts, said the concert will be a delight for the audience, as it brings together several ensembles performing different genres of music. Each ensemble has been rehearsing since the beginning of the fall semester and will continue into the spring.

The Marching Band will perform Christmas music, but in a concert band setting rather than in marching style. Some of the familiar tunes they will play are “Carol of the Bells” and “Sleigh Ride.” Other music will include vocal soloist Chloe Blashford with the jazz band. The Concert Choir will be dressed as holiday carolers and will sing a Pentatonix arrangement of “That’s Christmas to Me,” as well as a choral arrangement of “Sleigh Ride.” Several students are involved in multiple or all of the ensembles.

Ortega and Johnson said the one-hour concert features a little bit of something for everyone. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.