LEWISTON — Ray Cornils, Portland’s municipal organist, will bring his “Christmas with Cornils — A Kotzschmar Christmas” to the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul this holiday season. 

Each year, Cornils leads a group of musicians from across New England in the concert featuring the world-renowned Kotzschmar Organ, one of the oldest working municipal pipe organs in the United States.

Following its 100th-year celebration performances at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, the  Kotzschmar Organ is now in the process of being painstakingly renovated at Foley Baker Inc. in Tolland, Conn. That work is expected to be completed in 2014.

Cornils and the Festival Brass, Parish Ringers, Androscoggin Chorale and Renaissance Singers will perform holiday favorites, and a few new selections, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the basilica. 

They will also perform the concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, at the Cathedral of St. Luke in Portland.

The performance will begin with a Cornils organ solo: “Grand Fantasy on Joy to the World,” by Marc Cheban, followed by “The Holly and the Ivy” for organ and brass. Cornils crafts an interesting program throughout with sections representing various traditions of the season. For example, the section titled “Light in the Midst of Darkness” features organ solos, including “Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light” by Bach; “Midnight Blues” by Joe Udderback; and a rendition of “Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella,” arranged by Keith Chapman.

The Festival Brass will perform “O Holy Night” and several other holiday selections. The Parish Ringers will perform “Go  Tell it on the Mountain” and “Home for the Holidays Medley.”

The Androscoggin Chorale and the Renaissance Voices will present choral arrangements in various sections of the program. These include arrangements originated from 16th century madrigals, pieces by John Tavener and Eric Whitacre, and English tunes arranged by R. Vaughan Williams and Michael Head.

This year, the grand finale singalong will include “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Let It Snow,” “The Christmas Song,” “Silent Night” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”

Tickets to the Lewiston concert are $15 for adults/$20 at the door. Admission to the Portland concert is $20 for adults/$25 at the door. For advance tickets to either performance, visit www.brownpapertickets.com and search “Cornils.” Student tickets are also available online; children 12 and younger admitted free.  

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