LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lexington Singers, one of the longest continuously performing independent community choirs in America, is traveling to Europe for performances in Paris and England, the organization announced based on a City of Lexington press release.

The tour runs June 19-27 and features 108 participants performing at historic venues. The tour begins with a concert at the Church of Saint-Sulpice, the second largest church in Paris, where the group will present the European debut of a new masterwork by acclaimed composer Elaine Hagenberg.

Hagenberg is an American composer of choral works whose music "soars with eloquence and ingenuity" and her compositions are performed worldwide and frequently featured at American Choral Directors Association conferences and distinguished international concert halls. Her compositions have been performed at the Église Saint-Sulpice in Paris, the venue where the Lexington Singers will debut the new work.

The choir will then travel to Newmarket, England, one of Lexington's Sister Cities, to perform at King Edward VII Memorial Hall with Newmarket Community Choir. Newmarket became Lexington's Sister City in 2003, with both cities agreeing it made sense given Lexington's status as the Horse Capital of the World and Newmarket's role as the birthplace of thoroughbred horse racing.

Dr. Jefferson Johnson, music director of The Lexington Singers, said the group is "very excited to be representing Lexington, the state of Kentucky, and our country" during the tour. Kay Sargent, executive director of the Lexington Sister Cities program, called the performance "a good example of the cultural exchanges that are one of the hallmarks of our Sister Cities program."