Sacramento State’s choral program will mark its 20th anniversary with this year’s time-honored presentation of a “Procession of Carols,” which will be held on Saturday at The Sacred Heart Church.

Donald Kendrick, the director of choral activities at Sac State, will conduct the university’s 120-voice choral program in a series of candlelit processions and a sing-a-long of modern and traditional Christmas carols from around the world.

“The Concert Choir, Chamber Choir and the University Chorus will sing,” Kendrick said. “In addition, we have a small instrumental ensemble. We have a lot of brass players; we have some oboes, some flutes, percussion instruments and this huge organ we bring in from Oakland to help the audience with the sing-a-long,” Kendrick said.

Kendrick, who is also the founding conductor for the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra, led the way for the annual Christmas holiday program on his arrival to the university in 1986.

He said this year will mark an important milestone for the program.Richard Adams, a professor in the English Department, has performed poetry narrations for the last 17 years of the program, said the program gives people a sense of community.

“It’s very atmospheric. It begins, for example, in darkness and the choir carry candles as they process they come right through the church and then they form into a more conventional choir arrangement,” Adams said.

Choreography is also an important part of the concert, Adams said.

He said the narrations will act as a part of the whole concert occurring between the singing of the Christmas carols.

Adams said in the past the narrations has used poets such as Christina Rosetti and Dillon Thomas.

“It’s very much in the Christmas spirit but it’s not overly religious,” Kendrick said.

Kendrick said this year’s celebration will also welcome back Sac State choral alumni.

Renee Harris, a sophomore in music and vocal member of the Chamber ensemble, said she will take part in this year’s event for the second time since high school.

Harris, who participated in the program four years ago, said she believes people in Sacramento count on the program.

“A lot of people come to it,” Harris said. “It’s like the staple of Christmas for a lot of people.”

Kendrick said the performance, which will include its first matinee this year, has continued to be one of Sacramento’s most treasured yearly events.

He said the opening performance will be held at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

The concert will repeat at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday at the Sacred Heart Church located at 39th and J Streets.

Students who are interested in attending the performance are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance.

For more details students may visit the choir’s Web site at www.csus.edu/music/choral.