CHICAGO | The Chicago Chamber Choir (CCC), a skilled choral ensemble of 38 singers, announces its 13th concert season. Each of the three concert series focuses on a specific theme: Jewish choral music in November 2008, holiday carols in December 2008 and songs about water in March and April 2009. The concerts will take place throughout the Chicago area, including venues in Andersonville, Lincoln Park, the Gold Coast, Evanston and Rockford.

The season opens with "From Generation to Generation: Songs of the Jewish People" Nov. 15 at the Music Institute of Chicago's Nichols Hall in Evanston and Nov. 16 at Chicago Sinai Congregation in Chicago. CCC explores the rich heritage of Jewish choral music through a program of psalms, liturgical music, folk songs and dances. Leonard Bernstein's jazzy and dramatic Chichester Psalms, with organ, harp, percussion and soloist, is the centerpiece of the evening. The program also includes two world premieres by Bob Applebaum, formerly based in Chicago, and works by Salamone Rossi, Louis Lewandowski, Max Janowski and Israeli composer Yedidyah Admon. Guest musicians include harpist Kara Bershad, percussionist Tina Laughlin and an organist to be announced.

CCC's seventh annual holiday concert, "Carols by Candlelight: A Holiday Sing-Along," takes place Dec. 20 at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church and December 21 at Unity Lutheran Church, both in Chicago. This family-friendly program will feature traditional and contemporary holiday favorites, and audience members are welcome to join the choir for well-known carols. This winter celebration for all ages includes a post-concert reception with the singers.

Concluding the season is "Water Music: Currents of Life," March 29 at Unity Lutheran Church and April 3 at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, both in Chicago, and April 5 at Rockford College in Rockford. "As water brings life to the body, so music breathes life into the soul," said CCC

Artistic Director Timm Adams. "Water is so central to our existence as human beings that it's no wonder countless composers have found inspiration in its cool, quenching, cleansing nature, from oceans and seas to rivers and rain." CCC performs the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, Frederick Delius, Daniel Pinkham and Eric Whitacre, along with arrangements of "Deep River" (Carol Barnett), "Wade in the Water" (Allen Koepke) and Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

Founded in 1996, the Chicago Chamber Choir aims to promote the joy of choral music by offering seasonal concerts and charitable performances that educate and entertain children and adults in the Chicagoland area. The choir's repertoire is culturally diverse and international in scope. Seasonal concerts feature a balance of sacred and secular works, including time-honored classics as well as contemporary selections. As part of its mission, CCC actively seeks performance venues that bring music to under-served individuals and communities. The choir has performed in Chicago's inner-city schools, retirement homes, homeless shelters and rehabilitation centers. Artistic Director Timm Adams, who has conducted CCC since 2000, is associate professor of music at Rockford College, where he teaches private voice and music theory, conducts three choirs and musical-directs the Performing Arts Department's mainstage musicals.

The Chicago Chamber Choir presents "From Generation to Generation: Songs of the Jewish People" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at Nichols Concert Hall, Music Institute of Chicago, 1490 N. Chicago Ave., Evanston, and 3 p.m. Nov. 16 at Chicago Sinai Congregation, 15 W. Delaware Pl., Chicago. "Carols by Candlelight: A Holiday Sing-Along" takes place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, 600 W. Fullerton Pkwy., and at 4 p.m. Dec. 21 at Unity Lutheran Church, 5409 N. Magnolia, both in Chicago. "Water Music: Currents of Life" concludes the season at 3 p.m. March 29 at Unity Lutheran Church, at 7:30 p.m. April 3 at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church and at 3 p.m. April 5 in the Maddox Theatre of Rockford College, 5050 E. State St., Rockford.

Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door, and $15 for students and groups of 10 or more. Season subscriptions for all three concerts are $50 for adults, $40 for students. Tickets and information are available at chicagochamberchoir.org or (312) 409-6890.

--For The Times