Two area choirs will be joining forces for the first time in support of a cause that has profoundly touched their members' lives.

The concert will benefit the Myasthenia Gravis Association of Western Pennsylvania. Organizers hope to raise much-needed funds as well as public awareness for this often unrecognized disorder.

The joint event will feature The Circle of Friends Choirs, directed by Dr. David English, and the Ellwood City Area Civic Chorale, directed by Joyce Grindlesperger.

The performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday at Bakerstown United Methodist Church, 5760 William Flinn Highway, Route 8, in Bakerstown. Donations will benefit the association, with a suggested minimum of $15 per person.

"These two choirs have never performed together before," said Carol Lynn of Hampton Township, who has myasthenia and serves on the association's board of directors. Lynn proposed the idea of the benefit concert to her church choir director, Joyce Gindlesperger of Mars.

Grindlesperger directs both the Bakerstown U.M. choir and the Ellwood City Area Civic Chorale and her husband, Donald, is a member of both.

Gindlesperger was particularly receptive to the idea of a benefit concert because her own life has been touched by the myasthenia gravis. She lost a friend, Peter Lindberg, to the disorder in 1994.

"Peter was a dear, dear friend of mine," she said, "and it was devastating for me when he passed away. He was a wonderful musician and a very gifted composer. Unfortunately he wasn't able to live long enough fully to act on that."

The two choirs will pay tribute to Lindberg when they feature one of his works during the concert. The piece, "Sing, Rejoice," was commissioned by First United Methodist Church in New Brighton for its 150th anniversary.

The performance will be especially poignant because Lindberg's father, the Rev. David Lindberg, died of a heart attack on April 16. He was looking forward to the concert, she said, "and it's a blow to me that Pete's dad won't be able to hear it."

In addition to the work by Lindberg, the concert will feature a variety of secular and spiritual numbers.

Each choral group will perform six numbers, Grindlesperger said, and The Circle of Friends bell choir will also perform.

The vocalists will combine in a concert finale of four pieces.

"We're both very excited," she said of the groups. "When we're in our concert season, they are also in their concert season. So it's difficult to get out to hear other choirs. It will be nice that we'll be able to sit back and enjoy some of the performance.

"This is a really great fellowship performance and for someone in a choir," she added. "There is something in the music that really binds people together."