While the rest of the world is decking the halls and rocking around the Christmas tree, the Point Park Singers are getting ready for the holidays in a different way. Throughout the fall semester, the group has been rehearsing every Monday night in preparation for its annual holiday concert.

Jim Overly, an accompanist at Point Park and the director of the Point Park Singers, has put together quite the set list for the concert. The Point Park Singers will tackle music from Christmas classics to cinematic holiday music, even featuring a Hanukkah song. Stylistically, the concert will be an array of genres from jazz to funk.

“We’re doing some slower songs that are a little bit of a challenge,” Overly said. “We’re ending with a movie/TV kind of thing.”

Overly works in collaboration with Craig Davis, the accompanist for the Point Park Singers, to produce the best concert possible and to push the students to do things they didn’t think possible.

“[Overly’s] a great conductor,” Davis said. “He encourages the kids with loving support.”

Though he is the director, Overly said the group would not be where it is without Davis. The two work together, almost in sync, to make rehearsals as productive as possible.

“It’s so cool,” Overly said. “I love working with him because we’re kind of on the same wavelength.”

Point Park Singers is made up of about 15 students and is always on the look-out for new members. Being the only performing ensemble to allow students of any major, it’s also available to be taken for a credit.

The Point Park Singers can be taken for either one credit or none at all. It is listed under the course codes MUS 201 EA and MUS 201 EB respectively. The class meets from 7-9 p.m. every Monday.

Junior sports, arts and entertainment management major Baylee Zimmerman has been a member of the Point Park Singers since the first semester of her freshmen year. Through the group, she has made a lot of friends and even more memories.

“I think it’s kept me involved, and I think that’s the biggest thing when you come in freshmen year,” Zimmerman said. “In order to meet people and get yourself out there and not be cooped up in your room, you need to stay involved.”

Zimmerman said she’s had a lot of fun rehearsing for the upcoming concert and the audience will be in for a treat. She said it’s not the typical high school choir concert; there are some songs that people might not expect to hear.

The concert will take place from 8-9 p.m. on Dec. 12 in the first floor studio of the Boulevard Apartments. For more information on the upcoming event, visit the Point Park Singers Holiday Concert event page on Facebook.