For people who seek the dynamically lyrical and intellectual classics of Mozart, The Athens Master Chorale leaves weekend-goers with another option.

The Athens Master Chorale is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a unique repertoire of distinctive Mozart compositions, including his final written piece “Requiem Mass in D minor,” which has a storied place in musical literature.

“By the time Mozart began to work on the music, he was in poor physical health. He died shortly after making sketches of movement eight (Domine Jesu). The rest of the work was completed from his outline by a student, Franz Suessmayr,” said Conductor Joseph Napoli in an e-mail interview.

“I chose an all Mozart concert because the music is so wonderful to sing and to hear.”

Alto vocalist Cheryl Boop, who has been singing since she can remember, had never heard “Requiem” until Napoli introduced it to the Chorale.

“Joe is really good at explaining why a composer writes a piece of music and what its significance is. I’ve never sung a full Mozart composition before but I found ‘Requiem’ to be an amazing piece of music,” she said. “What I enjoy about the Chorale is that we are exposed to difficult stuff. [Mozart's works] are so different. I like to go for the challenge.”

“Requiem” has an intricate and mysterious history. Mozart’s wife, Constanze, kept secret the fact that the piece was incomplete at the time of his death. She had to promote the work as Mozart’s so to obtain a profit from the work’s publication.

Her efforts to keep Suessmayr’s contribution secret caused an outbreak of myths concerning whether Mozart had finished the piece and who could have completed it if he had passed away before its publication. It wasn’t until decades later that the truth was exposed.

The Chorale also will perform “Gloria in Excelsis Deo,” which is a movement from the 12th Mass, and the melodious “Ave Verum Corpus.”

The Chorale will be accompanied by a 21-piece orchestra made up of University students and community players.

In addition, many of the songs have beautiful solos among the singers.

“['Requiem'] calls for four vocal soloists, and we are fortunate to have Melanie Rowell, soprano; Laurie Swann, alto; Dallas Bono, tenor; and Brandon Graham, bass; performing with us,” Napoli said.

“We have students, doctors, lawyers, teachers, young singers, retired people and UGA faculty (from all over the campus) in the group of 51 singers,” Boop said.