For those waiting for the Christmas spirit to hit, First Lutheran Church will be chock full of it on Sunday.

The Jamestown High School A Cappella Choir will be putting on their final performance of the 91st Vespers at 4 p.m. in traditional style.

Lydell said the combination of tradition and holiday spirit during the performance will fill the audience with a sense of Christmas and lighten their hearts.

“Last year was a big year for us (as we) celebrated 90 years of the A Cappella Choir at Jamestown High School,” he said, adding over 300 alumni came back to sing for the special event in 2014. “With that behind us, we’re able to relax a little bit and have a little lighter fare for Vespers this year. The challenge is always to go from heritage and tradition to evolving and using pieces with more modern harmonies and rhythms.”

Lydell said this year’s musical selection is a delight.

“We have our two all-state soloists, Cameron Hurst and Sonia Angeli, performing ‘O Holy Night,’ which is a thrill for us,” he said.

The entire program honors the history of the choir.

“The fact that we’re able to do what we do (is special). We’re still able to process to the ‘Kyrie’ and recess to ‘Silent Night’ like we did back at the first Vespers in 1924,” Lydell said.

He said the group is dear to his heart not only due to his job, but also because Lydell was a part of the choir as a student at JHS.

“I was in A Cappella under Don Bube and my junior year was his retirement year. My senior year was the transition year for A Cappella,” he said, adding that was the year Brian Bogey took over direction of the choir. “I never would’ve guessed when I started my teaching career I’d be the director of the A Cappella Choir. I have such great memories musically here at the high school, and the fact I can keep doing it is just great.”

Lydell said Bogey is still active in and around the choir as an accompanist and general helper.

“Brian and I started as colleagues with me as the orchestra director and Brian as the chorus director here at JHS. It’s evolved from a great working relationship into a friendship,” he said. “He’s our piano player and he’ll come in twice a week or more as we get into the Christmas season, but it’s not just to play the piano. He’s Brian Bogey, so I’m not going to just have him sit there.”

Lydell said Bogey will often help with certain activities or work with a specific group of students.

“There are times when I have him up in front of the choir and I’ll sing with the men on ‘Little Innocent Lamb,'” he said. “The kids respond so well (because) he’s a master at what he does and he’s funny. It’s kind of neat for them to reach back to touch our history with our four directors and two of them are here every week.”

When it comes to Vespers, between Bogey playing the organ and the students singing, Lydell said it provokes a feeling one cannot explain as a director.

“When you sing in a choir, you hear what’s around you and you really have to trust the director. Likewise, when you’re out in the audience you don’t get to have the same thrill as being in the group,” Lydell said. “As the director, you’re right in between. Sometimes, I’ll sing along with the group, and sometimes, I’ll just step back and enjoy the sound of the choir (because) it’s a joy to the ears, I promise you.”

When asked to make the case to the public to attend the final performance, he said it is a very special event that needs to be seen and heard in person.

“I’ll let others make the case, when they say, ‘This is the start of my Christmas season. Then, I know I’m home.’ It’s difficult to try to describe the experience that it is,” Lydell said. “You kind of have to be there because it is not a high school chorus concert per say. It’s like singing in the shower – (the location) really adds to the whole ambiance of what we are singing.”

Overall, he said it is an important tradition that continues today for the public’s enjoyment.

“They’ll really enjoy the songs we’re going to be singing. ‘A Cappella’ means without accompaniment, so most of what we present is without accompaniment,” Lydell said. “I wouldn’t miss this. We haven’t seen any snow yet, but I really have to say this is what is going to put you in the Christmas spirit.”

The doors will open at 3 p.m. and the performance will begin at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary at First Lutheran Church on 120 Chandler St. The event is free, but includes an offering.