BSR Classical Interludes, December 2024

Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus: Naughty or Nice
Thursday, December 6, 8pm
Saturday, December 7, 2pm and 8pm
Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 South Broad Street, Philadelphia

Interim artistic director and conductor Michael Semancik leads the group in choral works (Conrad Susa’s Carols and Lullabies of the Southwest and Eric Whitacre’s Lux Aurumque) along with secular and sacred holiday classics. And along with the music, the chorus also promises to put in a good word with Santa!

Mendelssohn Chorus: A Feast of Carols
Saturday, December 7, 2pm and 5pm
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 22 East Chestnut Hill Avenue, Philadelphia

This ensemble’s annual concert under the direction of Dominick DiOrio premieres a commission by former chorus member Michael Robert Smith, with text by current singer and poet Kyle Conner. The program also includes timeless holiday works by Mendelssohn, Howells, Handel, and Britten, as well as contemporary seasonal music, and features the Timberdale Brass, organist Andrew Kotylo, and pianist Ting Ting Wong, as well as a carol sing-along.

Choral Arts Philadelphia: Carols by Candlelight
Saturday, December 7, 4pm
Church of the Holy Trinity, 1904 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

This program of Christmas favorites ranges widely from old to new, from traditional carols to Gustav Holst’s Christmas Day: Choral Fantasy on Old Carols. There’s also contemporary music (including that of Vince Guaraldi) along with many other holiday favorites. Conducted by Donald Meineke, the ensemble will be accompanied by organ, flute, oboe, and bassoon.

West Jersey Chamber Music Society: Christmas Celebration: Music for Choir and Brass
Sunday, December 8, 7:30pm
First Presbyterian Church, 101 Bridgeboro Road, Moorestown

Featuring the West Jersey Chamber Chorale and Timberdale Brass, this concert offers traditional carols, contemporary pieces, and timeless compositions, including the American premiere of Sam Scheibe's Brighter Sun. For those unable to attend in person, the performance will also be streamed live (free of charge) at concert time.

Delaware Symphony Chamber Players: Holidays at the Hotel
Tuesday, December 10, 7:30pm
Hotel duPont, Gold Ballroom, 42 West 11th Street, Wilmington

Each December, the Delaware Symphony returns to the Hotel duPont’s beautiful Gold Ballroom for their holiday chamber concert. This year, they’ll play Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins (featuring Delaware Symphony concertmaster David Southorn and the young regional virtuoso Maxwell Brown), along with Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings. The concert ticket includes a dessert and wine reception during intermission.

Ensemble Arts Philly & WRTI-FM: Silent Night Sing-In
Friday, December 13, 5:30 -6:30pm
Kimmel Cultural Campus, Commonwealth Plaza, 300 South Broad Street, Philadelphia

This now-annual event gathers hundreds of singers—experienced and novice—to join together in a special arrangement of the classic carol Silent Night. The group will be conducted by Philadelphia composer/conductor John Conahan, and WRTI’s classical radio personality and accomplished singer John T.K. Scherch will be the host. The event is free, though registration is requested. The sing-in will begin with a short rehearsal, and singers are urged to arrive early so the event can start promptly.