The Maine Music Society announces its 2018-19 season

LEWISTON — The Maine Music Society has announced their schedule for their 2018-19 season.

Battle of the Blends 25th anniversary — Saturday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m. This always sold-out event will feature seven spectacular vocal groups to help enjoy this amazing milestone: The Crosstones, Bates College; Fermata Nowhere, Edward Little High School; our own Maine Music Society Chamber Singers; the Meddiebempsters, Bowdoin College; None of the Above, Boston; the women’s barbershop Royal River Chorus, Yarmouth; and Vocal Solution, Waterford. There’s also a rumor of an extra surprise.

Online auction — Saturday, Nov. 3, to Thursday, Nov. 14, The Maine Music Society is conducting its first online silent auction beginning Nov. 3 in conjunction with the start of the season opening concert, Battle of the Blends. The bidding will close 10 days later on Nov. 14. This auction is to support the performances of the MMS Chorale and Orchestra and of the MMS Chamber Singers. MMS is dedicated to bringing quality choral performances of various genres to the greater Lewiston-Auburn area. Visit their website, www.mainemusicsociety.org.

“Heritage Holidays” concert — Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8 and 9. The MMS Chorale, directed by Artistic Director John Corrie, will present Christmas carols and Chanukah songs from around the world. The Chorale will perform favorites like “Silent Night,” “Chanukah, Oh Chanukah” and “O Holy Night” each sung in their original languages, and following tradition, the audience will be invited to join in the singing for the finale.

Handel’s “Judas Maccabaeus” — Saturday and Sunday, March 30 and 31, 2019. The story of “Judas Maccabaeus” unfolds with the solos and choruses dramatizing the fight of the Maccabees against, and their eventual victory over, the occupying dynasty of Hellenist kings. The music includes famous choruses, most notably the “Hallelujah, Amen.”

“The Big Chill”: Songs from the movie — Saturday and Sunday, June 8 and 9. Rounding out the season, the sounds of Motown will fill the air. The MMS Chorale will sing arrangements of songs from the soundtrack of the movie “The Big Chill.” Even those who may not know the movie will know many of the songs, including tunes like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” “Second that Emotion” and “My Girl.”

The Gendron Franco Center, 46 Cedar St., is the venue for all concerts.

To purchase tickets online at www.mainemusicsociety.org or call SmART Management (ticket agent) at 207-333-3386.

New season subscriptions go on sale Sept. 3, giving buyers a 20 percent discount and a free pass for an extra ticket for either the “Heritage Holidays” or “The Big Chill” concert. Individual tickets go on sale Sept. 17. Group rates of 10 percent off groups of 10 or more are available when tickets are purchased at the same time.

For more information, visit them on Facebook or go to their website, www.mainemusicsociety.org.