Nine months ago, when most people were thinking of Easter and spring gardening, Catherine Pederson was thinking Christmas. Sixteen weeks ago, when thoughts had turned to summer vacation, fishing and sunshine, the Orcas Choral Society was immersed in the songs of the seasons.

That’s how long they have been planning and practicing for the 31st annual “Joyous Sounds of Christmas” concerts on Saturday Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Orcas Center.

Pederson, who has been directing the Choral Society’s performances for 31 years, begins her planning by getting an idea for the sense of the

concert the shape it will take: Will there be a theme and a major work? Will there be instrumentals? Who will they be?

She attends choral workshops and seminars, talks to other directors — and looks through a lot of choral music.

“This year I decided there would not be a major work,” Pederson said.

“It would be a program of beautiful choral holiday music. I always repeat some things and we always have something new. I want to challenge not only the singers but also the audience and myself.

“The challenges in this concert were music interpretation. ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ is by a contemporary composer and is technically challenging. The simplest music is sometimes the most difficult to

sing effectively and interpret.”

Each year, some new voices join the choral society and some members leave. Those changes subtly change the performance each year.

Overall, it is a very stable group; Stan Miller and Katie Jensen have been with the society for all 31 years.

Pederson next decides how to use the different talents from the group in the production.

“With any luck at all, the choir I envision in the planning stages will be on the risers for the performance,” she said.

Then comes weeks of rehearsals, once a week for four months. Sometimes plans change in the course of rehearsals.

“The choir has to be committed to a piece,” Pederson said. “If they are lukewarm about a song I take it out.

“Ninety percent of the pleasure of singing should be in rehearsals.

It is more than preparing for the performance it is people who together because they enjoy singing. The performance should not be the only part of it.”

For the upcoming productions of a “Joyous Sounds of Christmas,” with Pederson directing and Patty Johnson accompanying, the 50-member choir will present a variety of songs and carols that encompass different musical traditions, arrangements and instrumentation.

Johnson and Terri Triplett are playing a piano duet of “White Christmas” and “The Sussex Carol.” “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening,” musically set by Larry Nickel, will feature solos by soprano Denise Babcock and bass Miller.

Jay Althouse has arranged two unique pieces that will be part of the concert. “Christmas Kum Ba Ya” combines English and Swahili in a lively spiritual. “Sing We Now of Christmas” features the choir and Brass Players Joe Babcock, Ginni Keith, Dimitri Stankovich, Joe Boucher, John Crandall and percussionist Jim Shaffer-Bauck who will also perform “A Christmas Echo” arranged by Patrick M. Liebergen.

“Go Tell It on the Mountain,” arranged by John Rutter, brings an Appalachian flavor to a traditional American folk song. “The Holly and the Ivy” features oboist Karen Blinn.

Baritone soloist Wally Logan and soprano Antoinette Botsford will perform a swingy and harmonic version of “Rudolph the Red Nosed

Reindeer,” while “The Shepherds’ Chorus” brings together the voices of the entire choir. David Evans, Eric Gourley and Dean Stupke will sing the parts of the kings.

“Shemen Zach (Pure Oil) by Chaim Parchi and sung in Hebrew, features baritone soloist John Heath, Blinn and the choir.

Singers Catherine Ellis, Gael Shipstad, Triplett, Helen Bee, Pam Evans, Lisa Heisinger, David Ecklund, Victoria Parker, Herlwyn Lutz,

Miller, Phil Weatherspoon with, Penny Sharp Sky and Shaffer-Bauck percussionists will present, “Tomorrow will be my Dancing Day.” The audience will be invited to join in traditional carol singing at this event.

After the performances are over Pederson says there is no feeling of being let down because the Choral Society has a party, take some time to savor what they have accomplished, enjoys their reviews and then starts planning their next performances in March and May.

“People say wonderful things about the performance,” Pederson said.

“They are always very generous with their praise.”

The 31st annual “Joyous Sounds of Christmas” concerts will be presented Sat. Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Orcas Center. The presentation is a joint production with the Orcas Center. Tickets are available through the Orcas Center Box

Office, 376-ACT 1, or during normal box office hours and are $10 for adults and $3 per student/child.