A holiday fixture at Kansas University is ready to entertain audiences for the 79th year.

The KU Symphonic Choir and KU Symphony Orchestra will perform three one-hour concerts at the Holiday Vespers Dec. 6-7 at the Lied Center.

Approximately 250 KU students will sing in the choir and 65 KU students will play in the orchestra for this year’s concert, which will be directed by John Paul Johnson and Nicholas Uljanov.

“I live for this time of year,” said Johnson, who conducted the concert for the first time last winter. “Last year it completely amazed me when I looked into the audience and saw a sea of red with all the holiday sweaters and people just ready to sing.”

The choir is comprised of seven groups — the Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, University Singers, Men’s Glee, Women’s Glee, Women’s Chorale and the Oread Singers.

The concert is expected to sell out.

“In the past, we sold out two performances at 2,000 people apiece, so this year we added a third performance,” said Larry Mallett, chair of KU’s department of music and dance.

Johnson said the choirs had started rehearsing the music and were excited about the concert.

“The purpose is to get people really excited about December and January and the holiday season,” Johnson said.

Performances will be at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Lied Center.

Tickets are $12.50 for adults and $10 for students and children. For more information, call 864-3436.