BSR Classical Interludes: more in December 2025

Mendelssohn Chorus: A Feast of Carols
Saturday, December 13, 2pm and 5pm
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 22 East Chestnut Hill Avenue

It seems to be the year for two-in-one day choral concerts! This weekend the venerable Mendelssohn Chorus presents their traditional holiday offering, a program of seasonal works ranging from Mendelssohn and Handel to contemporary composers Abbie Betinis and Dominick DiOrio, the group’s artistic director and conductor. Joined by the Timberlake Brass, organist Andy Kotoylo, and pianist Ting Ting Wong, the ensemble will also premiere a newly commissioned work by Rex Isenberg.

Dolce Suono Ensemble: America at 250
Sunday, December 14, 3pm
Trinity at 22nd, 2212 Spruce Street

Starting the country’s birthday year just a little early, this presenter explores Puerto Rican song in a concert connected to their Música en tus Manos (Music in Your Hands), a project that highlights works by Latiné composers. Ensemble members Mimi Stillman (flute), Gabriel Cabezas (cello), and Charles Abramovic (piano) will be joined by vocalist Celina Vélezv and percussionist Gabriel Globus-Hoenich in works by Undine Smith Moore, Jennifer Higdon, Rafael Hernández, Antonio Cabán Vale, Bobby Capó, and a world première by Jacob Bancks.

Serafin Four Seasons: Beethoven’s Birthday Bash
Tuesday, December 16, 7pm
Grace United Methodist Church, 900 Washington Street, Wilmington

Here’s another December offering that affords a break from holiday tunes. To celebrate the great composer’s 255th birthday (he’s just a little older than the USA), this chamber ensemble will feature works for violin and cello and piano sonatas, as well as his Trio in C minor. Violinist and artistic director Kate Ransom will be joined by Charae Krueger (cello) and Steinway Artist Victor Asuncion (piano). If your schedule is packed, the concert will also be livestreamed.

The Crossing at Christmas 2025: Our Lives, Our Fortunes, Our Sacred Honor
Friday, December 19, 7pm
St. Mark’s Church, 1625 Locust Street

Sunday, December 21, 5pm
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Avenue

For their annual Christmas offering, Donald Nally’s multi-Grammy-nominated choral ensemble is focused on a mother’s contemplation of her child’s destiny, juxtaposing our desire for peace and seeming inability to achieve it. There are world premieres of Sarah Rimkus' Nativity and Ukrainian composer Natalia Tsupryk's Kyiv in a new choral version arranged by The Crossing's associate conductor Kevin Vondrak. Both works will feature renowned cellist Thomas Mesa, and this concert will also be performed the same weekend in Manhattan.

Ensemble Arts Philly: Tuba Christmas
Sunday, December 21, 1pm and 6pm
Kimmel Center/Commonwealth Plaza, 300 South Broad Street

This year’s celebration of all things tuba and euphonium moves indoors. A beloved Philly (and national) tradition, it brings together more than 100 local brass players. Tuba Christmas began in 1974 at NYC’s Rockefeller Plaza as a tribute to legendary tubist William J. Bell, born on Christmas Day in 1902. Today, it takes place in more than 200 cities worldwide, gathering thousands of musicians and their friends and fans. The event is free, but an RSVP—which is requested to attend and required to perform—can be found at the link above.

And … two stay-at-home holiday options

Piffaro: Ein Kind Geborn
Streaming December 18-January 15, 2026

Earlier in December, Piffaro presented this evocative concert of sacred Christmas music by Michael Praetorius (and others) that featured familiar (and not so familiar) melodies. Philadelphia’s well-known Renaissance wind band was joined by NYC’s TENET Vocal Artists in a concert both meditative and invigorating.

Broadcast of Home for the Holidays
Tuesday, December 23, 8pm
Broadcast on WHYY-TV 12; streaming on WHYY Radio 90.9 FM and on WHYY.org

If you missed it (and alas, I did), here’s a chance to see or hear this festive December 3 concert that lit up Center City’s Grand Court. It features the Opera Philadelphia orchestra and chorus, led by conductor Geoffrey McDonald, in familiar favorites and unexpected delights. They’re joined by countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo (the company’s general director and president) and renowned Philly native soprano Leah Hawkins, and it includes an exciting dance interlude.