Some may find sacred music composer Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina's work challenging to sing but the Midwest Motet Society is up to the challenge. The Flossmoor-based chamber choir presents "Rome and Beyond: Paired with Palestrina" Nov. 5 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Park Forest to open its 2017-18 season.

"A few years ago Emile Augustine, one of my tenors said, 'Why don't we ever do any Palestrina?' and I said, 'It's tough music,'" said Marie Grass Amenta, founder and music director of the Midwest Motet Society. About 18 months ago, her son and accompanist, Ben Amenta, asked the same question. Marie Grass Amenta, of Flossmoor, said that reiterated to her that a program featuring pieces by the Italian Renaissance composer might be good for the society's fall concert.