Dec. 7-8: The Halalisa Singers perform "Season of Light"

Boston-based world music vocal ensemble The Halalisa Singers led by artistic director Mary Cunningham presents Season of Light featuring Conrad Susa’s exquisite “Carols and Lullabies of the Southwest” accompanied by harp, guitar, and marimba. The holiday program is part of a season revisiting past repertoire in honor of Cunningham’s twentieth year leading the chorus in diverse, uplifting music from around the world. Joining the singers are pianist Trevor Berens, guitarist Berit Strong, harpist Li Shan Tan, and marimbist Sylvie Zakarian.

∙ Saturday, December 7 at First Parish of Arlington, 630 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA. Concert at 7:30 p.m.

∙ Sunday, December 8 at First Church, 19 Foster St., Littleton. Concert at 4 p.m.

Tickets for each performance are $25. For more info visit www.halalisa.org or email info@halalisa.org.

Season of Light highlights celebratory music from around the world, showcasing Conrad Susa’s gorgeous “Carols and Lullabies of the Southwest” sung in English, Spanish, and Catalonian. The piece, which was commissioned by and dedicated to Philip Brunelle and the Plymouth Music Series of Minnesota, premiered in 1992 and has become a beloved holiday favorite. Written as a companion to Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols,” Susa organized a collection of traditional Spanish carols into a familiar Christmas narrative with a few surprises, for example the bawling baby in the final bars of the engaging carol “Chiquirriquitín.” From the touching “A La Nanita Nana” to the joyous “Alegria,” Susa’s masterful settings shine with beautiful solos, lush harmonies, exquisite harp, sparkling marimba, and lithe guitar work.

Also on the program are star-themed American spirituals, the Nigerian carol “Betelehemu,” choral composer extraordinaire Eric Whitacre’s “Glow,” the baroque era Spanish tune “Oy Es Dia de Placer,” and a rollicking version of the Chanukah favorite “Ocho Kandelikas” arranged by Zamir Chorale director Joshua Jacobson.

“I feel incredibly grateful to have been able to lead this chorus for the past 20 years,” says artistic director Cunningham. “Our past performance of ‘Carols and Lullabies’ was one of the highlights of my time with the ensemble. Now felt like the perfect time to sing these beautiful light, hope, and joy-filled pieces again.”

Season of Light reflects the mission and vision of Halalisa Singers, which embraces music as a powerful universal language. Boisterously joyful, warmly inclusive, and richly artistic, the concert promises an inspiring, celebratory audience experience that will open eyes, ears, and hearts.

The Halalisa Singers are a celebrated world music vocal ensemble of Greater Boston dedicated to the performance of music across cultures and nationalities. Halalisa is a Zulu word for celebration, and in that spirit, Halalisa’s repertoire includes African, Latin, American Spiritual, Gospel, Jewish, Folk, and Jazz. Founded by Nick Page in 1992 and under the leadership of Artistic Director Mary Cunningham since 2004, the chorus offers vibrant performances inspired by the belief that music is a universal language with the power to uplift and unite us all.

Artistic Director Mary Cunningham is in her 19th year of leading the Halalisa Singers, creating and directing unique and dynamic world music-themed choral concerts. Following her vision to share their music across the Boston area and beyond, Halalisa continues to reach out to wider audiences to perform an ever-expanding repertoire. She is well known in the Boston area as an active choral conductor, vocalist, and flute soloist. She has directed music ministry since 2008 in the UU churches of both Melrose and Reading, is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and the Association of UU Music Ministries. A member of the New World Chorale and a frequent performer with the Christmas Revels, Mary is on the faculty of the Winchester Community Music School and the Powers Music School in Belmont.

Pianist, composer, and accompanist Trevor Berens plays in many different styles, specializing in avant-garde classical music, traditional classical music, and free improvisation. Trevor holds degrees in piano performance, composition and music therapy from Loyola Marymount University, California Institute of the Arts and Lesley University. As a collaborator, he enjoys working with solo vocalists and instrumentalists, chamber groups, choruses, and with dancers and actors. Trevor is the founder, pianist, and resident composer of the new music ensemble Sonic Liberation Players. Trevor is the Pianist at the First Parish of Stow/Acton and, with his wife Jessica, runs the Berens Voice and Piano Studio out of Pepperell, MA.