The Hill Country Chorale, under the direction of Claire Rabson, and the choir of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, will celebrate Johann Sebastian Bach’s 325th birthday on March 27 with the chorale’s annual tribute. This year, a number of special features are in the program, including vocal arrangements by area composer Eugenia Schuler, “Zayin” with Bach’s Prelude No. 9, and “Resh” with Prelude No. 24, from Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier Book II of 1744.”

Featured soloist is the director, performing Charles Gounod’s popular, much-recorded 1859 rendition of Bach’s “Ave Maria.”

The chorale will begin singing “Alleluia” from Cantata No. 142, arranged for women’s voices, and “With Songs of Rejoicing” from the Cantata Denn du Wirst. Stuart Baumann, accompanist, will play a Rachmaninov piano arrangement of a Bach piece.

St. Paul’s sanctuary will perform two more Bach selections, and Marylin Davis, church pianist, and Susan Smith, organist, performing several duets. The event starts at 4 p.m. at 135 Methodist Encampment Rd. in Kerrville. A donation of $5 per adult is suggested. Those under 12 will be admitted for free.