SOLOIST—Newbury Park High School student Emily Eneberg shows off her powerful soprano voice in a rendition of “I Could Have Danced All Night” April 8 during the NPHS spring choir concert. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers Over the years, choir concerts directed by John Sargent at Newbury Park High School have been events to look forward to.

Their spring concert last Thursday at the school’s performing arts center was one of their best and most consistent shows. Sargent’s programming was, as always, intelligent and varied, ranging from the familiar to the undeservedly obscure.

Show tunes, pop and global choral numbers made for an enjoyable and stimulating evening.

The Panther Chamber Singers began with Shlomo Postolsky’s “Kumah Echa” (“Rise Up”), a rousing Jewish work song of unity.

Sargent followed this with two ethereal pieces, Eric Whitacre’s tender and delicate “A Boy and a Girl” and Joshua Shank’s “David’s Lamentation,” whose text is drawn from the tale of King David mourning the death of his son Absalom; the melody is based on that of early American composer William Billings.

CLASS ACTS—Above, Nicole Escandon and Connor Simmons perform “All I Ask of You” April 8 during the Newbury Park High School spring choir concert. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers The gospel number “ Shadrack” which followed has been recorded by the likes of Louis Armstrong and Brook Benton. Its lyrics deal with the biblical account of the deaths of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace.

Two sections of solo and ensemble numbers were featured in the concert, the first consisting of classical, cabaret and show tunes.

Emily Eneberg showcased a powerful soprano and wide range in an impressive solo on Lerner and Loewe’s “I Could Have Danced All Night” from “My Fair Lady.” Kelsey Carter sang Jewel’s “Foolish Games” from the film “Batman & Robin.”

Kelsey Carter sings “Foolish Games.” Turning to opera, Savannah Fisch sang a powerful version of “Quando men vo,” known more familiarly as “Musetta’s Waltz,” from the Puccini opera “La Bohème.”

Nicole Escandon and Connor Simmons sang the charming love duet “All I Ask of You” from “Phantom of the Opera,” and a female quartet (Anessa Buff, Savannah Fisch, Cara Blaxton and Adrianna Audenino) performed Bill Withers’ soulful “Lean on Me.”

The new 21-member Women’s Ensemble followed, beginning their set with Randall Thompson’s “A Girl’s Garden” from “Frostiana,” based on texts written by Robert Frost.

The sweet “The Violet” by Mark Patterson was followed by Ro Ogura’s “Hotaru Koi,” a traditional Japanese children’s song about a firefly.

A wistful version of “Three Spanish Ballades” by choral composer Eugene Butler followed, and the group closed its set with the spiritual “Shine on Me.”

The second set of solos and ensemble numbers was more poporiented.

Sara Bareilles’ recent hit “Basket Case” featured an affecting duet by Emily Kocontes and Nick Harper. Brett Crockett’s emotional and convincing rendition of “Where I Want to Be,” from the musical “Chess,” brought an eruption of enthusiastic cheering from the packed house.

Cara Blaxton sang Bob Dylan’s touching “Make You Feel My Love,” and Paige Sentianin and Amanda Wanamaker teamed up for “In His Eyes” from “Jekyll and Hyde.”

Tim Reese, Michael Parker, Justin Netka and Ben Braus concluded this segment with a whimsical barbershop quartet rendition of the Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty- Four.”

The full choir concluded the concert with Norman Dello Joio’s “Of Crows and Clusters,” Leonard Bernstein’s “Make Our Garden Grow” from “Candide,” Harry Belafonte’s unifying West Indianflavored anthem “Turn the World Around” and the magical and uplifting Kenyan chant “Wana Baraka,” with the members of the choir encircling the audience.

You don’t need to be the parent of one of the singers to enjoy NPHS choir concerts directed by Sargent. They are always a joy to listen to, and this was one of their best.