The month of December is packed with San Diego holiday concerts. Whether you like sacred music, sing-alongs or festive carols this Christmas and Hanukkah season, theres something for everyone to enjoy.
The touring orchestra Mannheim Steamroller by Chip Davis brings its annual Christmas tour to Escondido on Dec. 2. (Mannheim Steamroller)
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis
For 35 years, this orchestra has been touring with a multimedia Christmas show with lights, amplified sound and projections. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $74,40-$158.40. 800-988-4253, artcenter.org
Soprano Alisa Jordheim joins the San Diego Opera Chorus for its Making Merry concert on Dec. 7 at the Balboa Theatre. (San Diego Opera)
San Diego Opera Making Merry: A Choral Holiday Celebration
The San Diego Opera Chorus will be joined by soprano Alisa Jordheim and San Diego Civic Organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez for a concert of classic holiday songs, carols and modern favorites. 7 p.m. Dec. 7. Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., downtown. $23-$163. sdopera.org/shows/making-merry/
Bach Collegium San Diego A French Twist
This San Diego early music ensemble will perform music for the Virgin Mary and the Nativity spanning more than 300 years by the French composers Charpentier, Poulenc and Villette. 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at Grace Lutheran Church, 3967 Park Blvd., Hillcrest; 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at St. James-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. $17.85-$76.54. bachcollegiumsd.org/afrenchtwist
San Diego Festival Chorus Holiday Concert
This 23-year-old chorus will perform seasonal works including Sunrise Mass, A Celtic Noel, Esta Noche and an audience sing-along of Joy to the World. 1 p.m. Dec. 7. First United Methodist Church, 2111 Camino del Rio South, San Diego. $20. sandiegofestivalchorus.org
Torontos Choir! Choir! Choir! will host an audience-participationholiday concert on Dec. 8 at UC San Diegos Epstein Family Amphitheater. (Joseph Fuda Fudagraphy.com)
Choir! Choir! Choir! | Un-Silent Night & Holiday Market
This Toronto-born participatory concert experience invites audiences of all ages to laugh and sing along to holiday songs. A pre-show holiday market will open three hours before the concert. 6 p.m. Dec. 8. Epstein Family Amphitheater, 3195 Voigt Drive, UCSD, La Jolla. Free, but RSVP is required. artpower.ucsd.edu
San Diego Harmony Ringers
This advanced handbell ensemble presents its annual, free holiday concert. 2:30 p.m. Dec. 8. San Diego Central Library, Ninth Floor, 330 Park Blvd., downtown. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com
San Diego Womens Chorus Hope for the Holidays
This chorus, which supports and celebrates the music of women and LGBTQ+ composers and arrangers will present its annual winter concert, featuring songs that uplift and bring hope, light and unity in challenging times. 4 p.m. Dec. 8. Lincoln High School, 4777 Imperial Ave., San Diego. $25-$30. sdwc.org
San Diego Master Chorale Messiah Sing
The chorus, organist Martin Green and soloists present the 14th annual performance of Handels Messiah holiday oratorio, where audience members are invited to sing along to portions of the score. 4 p.m. Dec. 8. St. Pauls Episcopal Church, 2728 Sixth Ave., downtown. $16-$31 858-581-2203, sdmasterchorale.org/messiah-sing-2024
Conductor Christopher Dragon will lead the San Diego Symphony and guest choirs and vocalists in Noel, Noel Dec. 13-15 at Jacobs Music Center. (San Diego Symphony)
San Diego Symphony Noel, Noel
The symphonys annual Christmas concerts, led by conductor Christopher Dragon, will feature the San Diego Master Chorale,, San Diego Childrens Choir, vocalist Ross Lekites and more. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 14 and 15; 2 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15. Jacobs Music Center, 750 B St., downtown. $39-$93. purchasing.sandiegosymphony.org/9540
San Diego Gay Mens Chorus Jingle!
The choirs Big Band Holiday Spectacular will feature Christmas songs by Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, as well as smooth jazz, Dixieland and bossa nova holiday numbers, with audience sing-along sections. 7 p.m. Dec. 14; 3 p.m. Dec. 15. Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., downtown. $44-$98. sdgmc.org/event/jingle
Sacra/Profana chamber choir, photographed near the Geisel Library at UC San Diego, will present A Candle in the Window on Dec. 14 in San Diego. (Ken Jacques)
Sacra/Profana A Candle in the Window
The professional choral ensemble will present this holiday concert featuring new works by Andrew Bearden and Cory Hibbs. 7 p.m. Dec. 14. St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 3502 Clairemont Drive, San Diego. $15-$40. sacraprofana.org
San Diego Jewish Mens Choir A Hannukah Celebration
The choir will perform Hanukkah music in a variety of styles and languages. 3 p.m. Dec. 15. San Diego Public Library, Carmel Valley branch, 3919 Townsgate Drive, San Diego. Free. sdsings.org
Courtly Noyse holiday concert
San Diego Museum of Art presents a performance by this Renaissance music and vocal ensemble, which will perform early English and German Christmas carols, with accompaniment on period instruments, in the museums Renaissance and Baroque gallery. 2-3 p.m. Dec. 16 and 17. Gallery 16, SDMA, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. Free with museum admission ($15-$20). (619) 232-7931, sdmart.org/event/sdma-courtly-noyse
The 11-voice a cappella vocal ensemble Voctave will perform Dec. 19 at Jacobs Music Center in San Diego. (Voctave)
Voctave It Feels Like Christmas
San Diego Symphony presents this 11-member a cappella vocal ensemble performing songs from its just-released holiday album on a North American tour. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19. Jacobs Music Center, 750 B St., downtown. $39-$93. purchasing.sandiegosymphony.org/9537
The San Diego chamber group Camarada will perform Charlie Brown Jingles & Jazz in La Jolla on Dec. 21. (Beth Ross Buckley)
Camarada: Charlie Brown Jingles & Jazz
San Diego guitarist Peter Sprague will join the Camarada chamber ensemble for a performance of composer Vince Guaraldis jazzy soundtrack of the beloved1965 holiday special A Charlie Brown Christmas, along with other classical holiday music. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21. Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $28-$98. theconrad.org
San Diego Symphony Elf in Concert
Conductor Bruce Kiesling leads the symphony in this family-friendly screening of the Will Ferrell film that will be accompanied by live symphonic accompaniment. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21. Jacobs Music Center, 750 B St., downtown. $47-$109. purchasing.sandiegosymphony.org/9547
Pianist and composer Jim Brickman brings his “Comfort & Joy” holiday concert tour to San Diegos Balboa Theatre on Dec. 27. (San Diego Theatres)
Jim Brickman Comfort and Joy
This pop and classical composer and pianist, famed for his Christmas music, will perform a holiday concert with guest vocalists at the Balboa Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 27. 868 Fourth Ave., downtown. $45-$68. ticketmaster.com