BOUNTIFUL -- The Christmas Celebration hosted by the Mark Cheney family, now in its fifteenth year, will once again ring in the Christmas season with a program of sacred Christmas music and readings. This year's Celebration will feature the Salt Lake Children's Choir, conducted by Ralph Woodward. Founded in 1979, the award-winning choir has long been admired by choral professionals for its artistry and pure, angelic sound. It has recorded with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Utah Symphony, has been featured at six conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, and has been heard on Public Radio International.

"We're so thrilled to have Maestro Woodward and the Children's Choir join us," says Mark Cheney, patriarch of the host family.

The Salt Lake Children's Choir will sing a choral prelude to the service as well as other numbers throughout the program. A work composed by Woodward will be included.

When asked about what makes her family's annual program meaningful to her, Mark's daughter Mikelle Cheney Mueller, does not hesitate: "It's the singing. This isn't a passive observance of Christmas; it's active worship. The chapel is packed with friends sitting next to complete strangers, but we all know and love the message in the carols we sing together. There's nothing like it."

"I still remember sitting at the organ that first time we hosted the service in 1992," says Susan. "When I heard the congregation sing the opening strain of 'O Come, All Ye Faithful,' I felt like I was hearing the angels that announced Jesus' birth." This year's program, chaired by Susan and Mark, will feature the same carol again, as well as other favorites like "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "Joy to the World."

In 2000, the Cheney family began playing English handbells on the program. In addition to the Cheney handbell choir, this year's program also features such diverse instruments as bagpipes, flute, violin, piano, brass, and percussion. Chuck Gilmore, a regular performer at Rodgers' Memorial and Hale Center theaters, will sing. Readings by Carolee Ericksson, Molly Shaffer, and Mark Cheney will be interspersed with the music.

All are welcome at the Celebration. Susan Cheney says her family hopes that "all of us, no matter where we go to church or if we go to church at all, can begin the Christmas season together in a meaningful way" that night.

The Fifteenth Annual Christmas Celebration starts promptly at 6:45 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 26, at the LDS chapel on 1356 N. 650 East in Bountiful. Early seating is strongly advised.