Christmas music has always been an enjoyable...

Christmas music has always been an enjoyable part of celebrating the holiday season, and it never hurts when the singers are top-notch and the performance is free.

Today, the Southern California Mormon Choir will perform both religious and secular Christmas favorites in the Stake Center at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Rancho Palos Verdes.

This is the same group that performs Handel’s “Messiah” each year at the Music Center in Los Angeles, but the choir has opted not to perform downtown this year to conserve funds for its 40th anniversary celebration next year.

Sharon Stucki, the church’s media coordinator, said about 1,200 people came to last year’s performance and the church expects to see a large crowd again this year.

“Last year we had a really good turnout,” Stucki said. “And mostly it was non-Mormons, which is very good because this is a community affair.”

The 100-singer all-volunteer choir has members from throughout Southern California and has performed in Israel, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia, as well as at the Easter Sunrise Service at the Hollywood Bowl.

This year, the choir features soloists Karen Wright of Rancho Palos Verdes singing excerpts from the “Messiah,” Amber and Ashley Furst from Laguna Hills singing “Silent Night” in Spanish and German, and Jenell Goddard of Yorba Linda singing “O Holy Night” in French. Among the other works the choir will perform are “Entrata Festiva,” a contemporary piece by American composer Flor Peters based on a medieval chant, and “Sir Christemas” by Enlish composer William Mathias. Audience participation is invited on some songs, and selected pieces will be accompanied by the organ or brass and percussion instruments.

Since the performances are usually packed, plan to come early. Before the performance, the center will display a collection of Nativity scenes from around the world on loan from the church and local residents.