Choirs doing holiday concerts is nothing new, but this year the Northwest Repertory Singers will add to their Baroque Christmas concert this weekend at Tacoma’s Mason United Methodist Church with a pre-concert lecture by director Paul Schultz, as well as supporting the spirit of Christmas with food bank donations.

This year’s Christmas concert features favorites from the Baroque period such as J.S. Bach’s cantata “Wachet auf” (“Sleepers Wake”) and selections from Handel’s “Messiah,” accompanied by members of the Northwest Sinfonietta.

Director Paul Schulz will give a pre-concert lecture about the program, a tradition the choir intends to add to …

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Party Line at the Telephone Room

This month’s exhibit at the tiny, one-room gallery of the Telephone Room is recent UPS graduate Lauren Faulkner, exploring art and process inspired by Egon Schiele “Emulate: A Visual Interpretation of Schiele’s Nudes.” Artist talk/reception 6 p.m. tonight. Open through Mar. 27 by appointment. Free. 3710 N. Union Ave., Tacoma. www.thetelephoneroom.blogspot.com

Choral Extravaganza from the Northwest Repertory Singers

Tacoma choir the Northwest Repertory Singers are combining with the Federal Way Choral and Clark College Chorale for “A Choral Extravaganza” on Saturday night. Nearly 200 singers will perform spirituals by Hall Johnson and Moses Hogan, …

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If you haven’t yet heard the Northwest Repertory Singers, this weekend’s concert is a great debut experience. The 60-strong Tacoma-based choir is at their best singing both new music and choir favorites, both of which will be in their “Christmas Memories” show at Mason United Methodist Church.

The program pulls from various Christmas traditions, including the choir’s own. Past Christmas concert numbers include “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” where the men get to sing the Frost poem with hushed stillness; “Snowforms”; and the “Messiah” chorus “And the Glory of the Lord.” They’ll finish with that hilarious version …

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It’s the ultimate romantic evening: romantic musically, that is. This Saturday night the Northwest Repertory Singers finish their season with an all-French concert of choral jewels from Fauré, Duruflé and the like. Local baritone Barry Johnson is the soloist. And as a bonus, they’re hiring an orchestra for the first time.

“Contracting with the Northwest Sinfonietta is an exciting step,” says NWRS director Paul Schulz. “It’s part of the natural progession of NWRS as one of the premier vocal ensembles in the Northwest.”

The choir, which will celebrate its 10^th anniversary next season, is known for high-quality singing and …

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Mary Josephson at Traver

The opening this month at Traver Gallery is for Portland-based Mary Josephson, who creates expressive portraits in glass, textile and monotypes. Opening 2-5 p.m. March 13, then 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue-Sat, noon-5 p.m. Sun. through April 4. Free. 1821 E Dock St. Ste 100, Tacoma. 253-383-3685, www.travergallery.com

Opera Night with chorus and opera companies

The Northwest Repertory Singers and Rainier Family Opera collaborate this Saturday night in “A Night at the Opera,” combining their chorus and solo strengths to present favorite staged scenes from “Lucia di Lammermoor,” “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “La Traviata.” 7:30 p.m. March …

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