Rheine. The Byzantine Male Choir of the Province of Overijssel will give an autumn concert on November 17 (Sunday) at 5 p.m. at the invitation of the town twinning association Rheine in the town church of St. Dionysius. The program includes Byzantine-liturgical and secular choral music from Eastern Europe. It is the last major event of the year to which the public is cordially invited.The “Overijssels Byzantijns Mannenkoor” will be visiting Rheine for the fourth time. It has a large following after its previous performances. The members from all over the province of Overijssel come to Nijverdal every week on Mondays to rehearse and work on the quality of the choir under the direction of conductor Marian Stouwdam. The repertoire consists of Byzantine liturgical songs and Slavic choral music, but the choir also enjoys performing cheerful and melancholy secular songs from Eastern Europe. The 38-member choir always sings a cappella and in four voices and has made a name for itself with the deep basses and high tenor voices so characteristic of Byzantine and Slavic compositions.The choir is also performing the “Prayer for Peace for Ukraine” this year. “Boze velykyi jedynyi” is a patriotic Ukrainian anthem. First published in 1885, it became a regular closing hymn in services of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and other churches. It gained national significance when it was performed by mass choirs during the Ukrainian War of Independence in 1917-1920. And immediately after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the work was performed spontaneously by several choirs around the world at the end of February 2022. The “Prayer for Ukraine” will be sung at the end of the program.During the 20-minute break, a saxophone ensemble of students from the municipal music school under the direction of Lothar Eirmbter will entertain the audience with classical works.Frits Roeloffzen, Ton Somhorst and Marian Stouwdam will perform as soloists with the Byzantine Choir. Presenter Inge de Vries will lead through the program.Founded in early 2000, the Byzantine Choir is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary. With concert tours to Romania, Germany and Belgium, participation in the last postal ceremony in Ypres under the Menin Gate and the closing service of the Procession of the Holy Blood in Bruges, the choir has also made a name for itself abroad.There is no admission charge for the concert. However, the singers ask for donations at the church doors at the end for social projects in which the choir is very involved. www.friendsineurope.com