GALESBURG -- The Knox College Choir, directed by Tim Pahel, will perform at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 14 in First Presbyterian Church, 101 N. Prairie St., Galesburg. The concert is free and open to the public.

Selections will include Benjamin Britten's "Rejoice in the Lamb," featuring four soloists, Megan Rehberg, soprano; Marisa Sengstock, mezzo-soprano; Adam Doe, tenor; and Loren Lindgren, baritone; and accompanist Amber Clark on the organ.

"Britten's work is set to the poetry of Christopher Smart, the 18th-century British poet," said Pahel. "Smart was deeply religious, but also deeply troubled, and he wrote the text while in an insane asylum."

The choir also will perform "Cloudburst," by Eric Whitacre, which is set to the poetry of Octavio Paz, and features two soloists: Heather Holmquest, soprano, and Cameron Lilly, baritone.

"The climax of 'Cloudburst' depicts a thunderstorm, with various percussion instruments including a thunder sheet, bass drum, wind chimes, and hand bells," Pahel said.

The men in the Choir will be featured in a piece called 'Hol' You Han' by Paul Rardin, and the women will be featured in two pieces, "Ave Maria," by Venezuelan composer Cesar Carrillo and "Mbiri Kuna Mwari," an African spiritual.

Also on the program are Randall Stroope's "Sure on this Shining Night" with Meghan Rockwood, soprano, and a traditional gospel-blues song, "John the Revelator."

The Knox Chamber Singers and the men's group Six Ways From Sunday will also perform madrigals, barbershop and vocal jazz selections.

Pahel, visiting instructor in music, is also director of the Carl Sandburg College Choir and the Galesburg Community Chorus. He is a graduate of the Lawrence University Music Conservatory.