The Sonoran Desert Chorale begins the 29th season with a new artistic director, Craig Peterson, and a variety of styles and texts in praise of life, nature, love, the Almighty, and of course, music.

“Sing Joyfully!” performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at First United Methodist Church, 15 E. First Avenue in Mesa; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at La Casa De Cristo Lutheran Church, 6300 E. Bell Road in Scottsdale.

Single tickets are $25 for adults/$20 for seniors, students, and groups of 10 or more. Tickets may be purchased online at SonoranDesertChorale.org or by calling 480-305-4538. Season tickets are also available and offer a savings over regular ticket prices.

A joyful concert awaits the audience. Be moved by Dan Forrest’s The Music of Living and Morten Lauridsen’s “Sure On This Shining Night.” Delight in Parker and Shaw’s “I’m Goin’ To Sing” and Z. Randall Stroope’s “Come, Let Us Sing a Song for Joy!” Chuckle at “The Uncertainty of the Poet” and be lifted by Jake Runestad’s “Alleluia.” These are just some of the pieces to be performed.

Peterson is the director of choral activities and music department chair at Mesa Community College where he has directed two chamber choirs, a concert choir, a jazz choir and teaches choral education classes. Groups under his direction have received superior ratings at area festivals and have appeared by invitation at state and national conferences. Peterson has also prepared choirs for the Phoenix Symphony and the Boston Pops Orchestra. He has served as the assistant director of the Phoenix Chorale and he continues to be in demand as a clinician and singer throughout Arizona and beyond.

Sonoran Desert Chorale was founded in 1994 by Jeff Harris, who directed the group for 25 years.