FARMINGTON —The Arts Institute of Western Maine will present Village Harmony, a  lively youth world music singing ensemble based in Vermont, on Thursday, July 7.

Led by ethnic music specialists John Harrison, Natalie Nowytski and Olga Velitchkina, the 24 teenage singers — joined by local performers Ellie Sloane-Barton and Louisa Stancioff — perform high-energy gospel and jazz arrangements. They also perform traditional music from the Balkans, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia.

Each summer, Village Harmony sponsors 10 ensembles of  teen and adult singers in New England and  numerous foreign countries. Each group develops its own sound with a different international team of leaders. The three co-leaders bring much experience and repertoires including jazz, gospel, Russian village and liturgical music and traditional Eastern European music.

Although primarily a vocal group, Village Harmony often combines traditional instruments for a truly authentic sound.

The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. at Nordica Auditorium on the University of Maine at Farmington campus. Arts Institute of Western Maine is an affiliate of UMF. Donations will be accepted at the door.