LEWISTON — “Battle of the Blends XXII” brings some of the area’s finest a cappella talent to the Franco Center concert hall at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7, for this perennially popular musical presentation.

Advance tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for children under 12. Tickets are and additional $2 at the door.

For more than two decades, the Maine Music Society has showcased all genres of this vocal-only entertainment, according to Judith Andrucki, a co-founder of the first “Battle” when she was a member of the popular “Top Forty” vocal group.
This year’s “Battle” will present an outstanding opportunity to see and hear how a cappella performances have evolved. Andrucki said singers are discovering the joys and challenges of this form at all ages, and they are bringing some extraordinary talent to the shows.
“Audiences once thought of an a cappella group standing in a horseshoe formation, getting the opening notes from a member with pitch pipe, and singing numbers from a traditional repertoire,” Andrucki said. Shows have become more dynamic. They are innovative and filled with action, she said. The concerts put a spotlight on the breadth and depth of the singers’ skills.
Andrucki and John Milazzo, a former board member and the sound board operator at “Battle of the Blends” concerts, pointed out the inclusion of more contemporary songs. They said audiences are always delighted with the variety of vocal skills exhibited in these shows.
The featured groups for the 2015 concert include “Good-Time Sound,” a group seen in previous years. It is a male quartet that presents a mix of popular songs with some strong ties to the barbershop world.
“Talk To The Hand” is a women’s a cappella quartet that is well-known in and around Boston.
“The Crosstones” is a co-ed vocal group founded in 1996 at Bates College.
The Maine Music Society Chamber Singers are members of the larger Maine Music Society Chorale, formerly known as the Androscoggin Chorale.
Appearing for the first time is the a cappella choir from Edward Little High School in Auburn.
“Some of these singers get their start at an early age,” Andrucki said. She said she’s impressed with the sincerity and discipline of the younger singers.
Milazzo commented that he gets a chance to hear something extra with each year’s “Battle of the Blends.” That’s the off-stage impromptu songs when all the groups enjoy some friendly competition.
Andrucki emphasized that annual “Battle of the Blends” couldn’t take place without the efforts of volunteers. A meal is prepared for all the participants. The show requires ushers, house managers, and many others.
“It makes me very proud to be working with this group of people,” Andrucki said.
For tickets, call L/A Arts at 782-7228. Links for online purchase of tickets can be found at www.mainemusicsociety.org.