BETHEL – The U.S. Navy Sea Chanters, the official chorus of the U.S. Navy, will give a free concert as part of the Mahoosuc Arts Council’s Gould Performing Arts Series on Tuesday, March 29.

The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the Bingham Auditorium, 45 Church St. Admission is free, but ticket reservations are required. Contact the Mahoosuc Arts Council at 824-3575, www.mahoosucarts.org or info@mahoosucarts.org.

The Sea Chanters perform a variety of music ranging from traditional choral music, including the sea chantey, to Broadway musicals. Under the leadership of chief musician Georgina L. Todd, the ensemble appears throughout the United States, often performing at the White House and for other Washington dignitaries.

In 1956, Lt. Harold Fultz, then the band’s assistant leader, organized a vocal ensemble from the Navy School of Music in Anacostia to sing chanteys and patriotic songs for the State of the Nation dinner.

An immediate success, Adm. Arleigh Burke, then chief of naval operations, transferred them to the Navy Band, named them the SeaChanters and tasked this all-male chorus with perpetuating the songs of the sea. Female voices were added in 1980, increasing the chorus’ repertoire.

The Sea Chanters have played a vital role during national times of mourning, including appearances at memorials for the astronauts of the space shuttle Columbia and the presidential wreath laying ceremony at the United Airlines Flight 93 crash site in Shanksville, Pa.

The ensemble gave an inspiring rendition of “Amazing Grace” at the national day of Prayer and Remembrance at the National Cathedral in Washington after the events of 9/11. In 1994, the chorus provided music at the funeral of former President Nixon in Yorba Linda, Calif., and the interment of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis at Arlington National Cemetery.

One of the pre-eminent professional choral ensembles in the country today, the Sea Chanters have appeared at the Kennedy Center Honors and with the National Symphony Orchestra for the nationally telecast “National Memorial Day Concerts” at the U.S. Capitol. In addition, the group has appeared on “Larry King Live” and “CBS This Morning” as well as at the premiere of the movie “Pearl Harbor.”

Noted choral directors Dale Warland and Donald Neuen have guest conducted the ensemble, and renowned composers Roger Bourland, William MacDuff and Lloyd Pfautsch have written works especially for them.