A Round-up of Vocal and Choral Events for the Holidays

November 29, 2025, 4:00 pm

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Photo of Chicago Symphony Chorus and Orchestra performance of "Merry, Merry Chicago" taken from house right with audience, orchestra, and chorus captured in wide-angle shot; stage decorated with bunting and wreaths.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra's "Merry, Merry Chicago!" (Photo: Todd Rosenberg)

Grab your calendars and make your plans to enjoy a season of joyful holiday concerts. Plus, host Oliver Camacho is joined by Ari Shapiro, who leads the Pink Martini All-Stars on tour which includes a stop in Chicago.

Music of the Baroque: Messiah
Nov 30 + Dec 1

Take 6
Dec 3

The Klezmatics: Happy Joyous Hanukkah
Dec 4

Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus: Holly Dolly Christmas
Dec 5–7

Chicago a cappella: Holidays a cappella
Dec 5–14

Newberry Consort: A Flamenco Christmas
Dec 5–7

St Charles Singers: Candlelight Carols
Dec 5–7

Rembrandt Chamber Musicians: Holiday Baroque
Dec 6

William Ferris Chorale: Constellations
Dec 6

Vox Venti: Guard My Tongue
Dec 6

Rockefeller Memorial Chapel: Messiah
Dec 7

Symphony Center Presents: A Chanticleer Christmas
Dec 9

Chicago Chamber Choir: Midwinter Songs
Dec 13+14

Chicago Master Singers: O Radiant Dawn
Dec 13+14

Apollo Chorus: Messiah
Dec 13+14

Chicago Chorale: Carol Sing-Along
Dec 14

Bella Voce: Christmas with the Baroque Masters
Dec 14

Apollo’s Fire: Praetorius Christmas Vespers
Dec 14+15

Pink Martini All-Stars: A Season of Stars
Dec 17

Music of the Baroque: Holiday Choral and Brass
Dec 18–21

Amahl and the Night Visitors
Dec 19+21

Consonance: A Christmas Carol
Dec 19+21

Chicago Symphony Chorus & Orchestra: Merry, Merry Chicago!
Dec 19–23

 

Playlist

George Frideric Handel: “There were shepherds aiding…Glory to God” from Messiah
Sherezade Panthaki, soprano
Music of the Baroque/Nicholas Kraemer

Felix Mendelsohn arr. Cedric Dent: “Hark! The Herald Angel’s Sing” 
Take 6

Buddy Green: “Mary, Did You Know?”
Dolly Parton

Frank London:  “Hanukkah’s Flame”
The Klezmatics

Scott Hoying and Kevin Oluwole Olusola: “That’s Christmas to Me”
Pentatonix

Kerensa Briggs: “A Tender Shoot”
Somerville College Choir, Oxford/Will Dawes

Steven Sametz: “A Christmas Fanfare (Angelus ad virginem)” 
Chanticleer

Donald Fraser: “This Christmastide (Jessye’s Carol)”
Jessye Norman, soprano
New York Choral Society & The American Boychoir
Empire Chamber Ensemble/Robert De Cormier, conductor

Michael Praetorius: “O Morning Star”
Abigail Clark & Madeline Apple Healey, trebles
Apollo’s Fire/Jeannette Sorrell

Marc-Antoine Charpentier: “Agnus Dei” from Messe de minuit pour Noël
Ensemble Corrrespondances/Sébastien Daucé

Handel: “Ev’ry valley shall be exalted” from Messiah
James Reese, tenor
TENET Vocal Artists/Jeffrey Grossman
Live recording used with kind permission from TENET Vocal Artists

Flory Jagoda: “Ocho kandelikas”
Ari Shapiro & Cantor Ida Rae Cahana, vocals
Pink Martini

Benedict Sheehan: A Christmas Carol
IX. Little Fan
X. Sussex carol
Sarah Walker, narrator
Michael Hawes, baritone
Skylark Vocal Ensemble/Matthew Guard

Margaret Bonds: “Alleluia” from The Ballad of the Brown King
Laquita Mitchell, soprano
Lucia Bradford, mezzo-soprano
The Dessoff Choirs & Orchestra/Malcolm J. Merriweather

Tags
Holiday Music