Holiday choral concerts abound! Here are some that have come across our Vermont ACDA e-mail listserv or on the web, that feature our members. All these also appear on the Vermont ACDA Events Calendar (in a chronological listing).
12/9-12 Counterpoint 12/10-12 VSO Chorus Holiday Pops 12/11 Vermont Choral Union 12/11-12 Maiden Vermont 12/16-20 VSO Brass and Counterpoint 12/17 Bella Voce / Cantiamo ~ Oriana Singers 12/18-19 Onion River Chorus 12/19 Middlebury Messiah Sing 12/22-23 South Burlington Community Chorus / Mad River Chorale / Young Singers Chorus 1/8 Essex Children's Choir
Vermont Choral Union, directed by Gary Moreau
Ave Maria: works dedicated to the Blessed Virgin by Palestrina, Gabrieli, Biebl, Poulenc, and others.
Sat, Dec 11, 7:30 pm McCarthy Arts Center, St. Michael’s College
Tickets at the door. $12 general admission; $8 seniors/students; free with SMC ID
Maiden Vermont directed by Lindi Bortney
“Songs to Warm Your Heart” with guest artist Jon Gailmor.
Sat, Dec. 11 7:30pm
Sun, Dec. 12, 3:00pm
Tickets: $17/$12 students
www. townhalltheater.org 802.382.9822
Christmas with Counterpoint, conducted by Nathaniel Lew
A panoply of Christmas songs covering every historical period: from Renaissance gems by Thomas Tallis to the premiere of the Ave Maria by Vermont composer and Counterpoint alumnus David Horn. We span the globe with folk carols from Germany, Nigeria, Haiti, and Italy. And Steven Sametz’s “Gaudete” transforms a popular Renaissance Christmas song into a whirlwind dance of changing rhythms.
Thu, Dec 9, 7:00 pm Montpelier, Vermont College of Fine Arts Chapel
Fri, Dec 10, 7:30 pm St Albans, St Luke’s Episcopal Church
Sat, Dec 11, 7:30 pm St Johnsbury, North Congregational Church
Sun, Dec 12, 4:00 pm Shelburne United Methodist Church
Adults $20, seniors $15, students and financially challenged $5, under 5 free.
Tickets and information at (802) 540-1784
Vermont Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Holiday Pops: “Glory Hallelujah” conducted by Robert De Cormier with Susanne Peck, soprano and Amy Frostman, alto
The VSO Chorus joins the Orchestra for a festive celebration of the season. The theater will ring with two Glorias, two Hallelujahs, three spirituals, music from the court of King Henry VIII, excerpts from “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” and (of course!) an audience singalong.
Fri, Dec 10, 7:30 pm Barre Opera House
Tickets available through the Barre Opera House at (802) 476-8188
Sat, Dec 11, 7:30 pm Flynn Center, Burlington
Tickets available through the Flynn Regional Box Office or (802) 86-FLYNN
Sun, Dec 12, 4:00 pm Paramount Theatre, Rutland
Tickets available through the Paramount Theatre Box Office or (802) 775-0903
Bella Voce Women’s Chorus & Cantiamo directed by Dawn Willis
Bella Voce Women’s Chorus performs LIVE from the Elley Long Music Center on VPR Classical’s Annual Winter Concert, Friday, December 17 from 11:00am – 12:00pm. The choir, under the direction of Dr. Dawn Willis, will perform many of the pieces featured in their recent holiday concert and other traditional favorites. Reservations required. More information www.vpr.net
Fri, Dec. 17, 11:00 am, Elly Long Center, Colchester
Cantiamo, Bella Voce’s smaller select choir will be the feat
ured performers for “A Holiday Musical Celebration” – part of the Old Brick Church Music Series. Cantiamo is pleased to be joined by harpist Heidi Soons who will open the show. Her music will put everyone a holiday mood! Cantiamo will sing a range of music for the holidays from the early Renaissance to contemporary classics. And, of course, everyone will have the opportunity to sing favorite Christmas carols along with Cantiamo.
Fri, Dec. 17, 7:00 pm, Old Brick Church, Rt. 2, Williston Town Center
Admission $10/$6
Oriana Singers conducted by William Metcalfe
The Vermont Mozart Festival is very happy to announce that the Oriana Singers have chosen to present this year’s winter concert on December 17th. Titled “Bach Christmas Ornaments,” the concert will feature brilliant favorites by the great Bach, including his Double Violin Concerto and excerpts from his festive Christmas Oratorio. The concert will feature Jill Levis and Jane Snyder (soprano), Gary Moreau (bass), Jim Duncan (trumpet), Curtis Macomber and Emily Popham (violin), Melvin Kaplan (oboe) and the Oriana/New York Chamber Soloists Orchestra, with William Metcalfe conducting.
Fri, Dec. 17, 7:30pm, College St. Congregational Church, Burlington
Tickets are now available online at www.vtmozart.org/winter-concert.php at a slightly discounted price, or you may purchase them at the door for $25 ($20 for seniors and students).
The Onion River Chorus presents Christmas 
in Rome 1600
led by Larry Gordon, with Stephen and Kathy Light of Fyre and Lightning Ensemble leading the ensemble of accompanying instruments
The 50 voice choir, joined by an ensemble of brass and renaissance instruments, presents Christmas music that might have been heard in one of Rome’s great churches in !600. The lively and varied program includes the grand, double choir Mass Hodie Christus Natus Est by Palestrina, plus Latin motets by Palestrina, Victoria, Mouton and Andrea Gabrieli. In addition the nine-voice select vocal ensemble Dolce Lingua presents the marvelous Pastoral Dialogue for the Birth of our Lord, by Giuseppe Anerio, an extended set of pieces in the popular, rhythmic Italian lauda style, which narrates the entire Christmas story in the form of a dialogue among shepherds.
Sat, Dec. 18, 7:30 pm, St Monica Church, Barre (79 Summer St.)
Sunday, Dec. 19, 3:30 pm, St Augustine’s Church, Montpelier (Barre St)
For information call 476-4300
Middlebury’s Annual Messiah Sing conducted Jeff Rehbach
Since 1984, the Messiah Sing attracts hundreds of singers to Middlebury as
we read selected choruses from all three parts of Handel’s Messiah. With soloists from the local community, along with instrumentalists who arrive on site to form an orchestra, and a hand-crafted harpsichord by Lincoln, Vermont maker Robert Hicks, it’s an afternoon filled with enjoyable, community music making.
Sun, Dec. 19, 2:00 pm, Middlebury Congregational Church
Donations requested at the door ($5 individual; $10 family).
Info: go.middlebury.edu/messiah-sing
Counterpoint with the VSO Brass Quintet, conducted by Robert De Cormier
Robert De Cormier returns to lead the ensemble in a festive combination of brass and choral works perfect for the holidays.Held in picturesque, intimate settings, these concerts are certain to bring you quintessential Vermont holiday cheer!
Thu, Dec. 16, 7:30 pm, Warren United Church, Warren, VT
Free admission; ticket required; limit four tickets per person. Tickets available beginning December 1 at the Bradley House in Warren, (802) 496-9714. Sponsored by the Warren Arts Committee and Mary Jane Burry, in memory of Marion Hogue and Colonel Frank Burry.
Friday, Dec. 17, 7:30 pm, International Room at Jay Peak Resort, Jay
Presented by Jay Peak Resort and Louis Jadot Wines . Free wine tasting 6 – 7:15 p.m. Adults $15 or $10 with a food drive donation. Adult dinner and concert $30 or $25 with food drive donation. Children $5. Children dinner and concert $20. Food donations go to the Jay Food Shelf.
Saturday, Dec. 18, 5:00 pm, The White Church, Grafton
Free admission; ticket required; limit four tickets per person. Tickets available beginning December 1 beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Grafton Grocery Market in Grafton. As in the past, this concert has been underwritten as a gift to the town of Grafton
Sunday, Dec. 19, 4:00 pm, First Congregational Church, Manchester
Adults $18. Seniors 65+ and students $15. Free under age 18 with adult purchase. Tickets available beginning December 1 at Northshire Bookstore, Manchester, (802) 362-3565. Sponsored by The Southwest Friends of the VSO.
Monday, Dec. 20, 7:00 pm, Congregational Church, Brandon
Adults $18. Seniors 65+ and students $15. Free under age 18 with adult purchase. Tickets available beginning December 1 at Briggs Carriage Bookstore, Brandon, (802) 247-0050; Lake Sunapee Bank, Brandon, (802) 247-5771; and Boys and Girls Club of Brandon, (802) 465-4131. This concert is a benefit for the Boys and Girls Club of Brandon.
South Burlington Community Chorus Holiday Concert 
directed by Piero Bonamico
This year’s program will be the biggest ever as SBCC joins forces with The Mad River Chorale of Waitsfield, The Young Singers Chorus of Vermont and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Brass resulting in a combined performing force of nearly 200 singers and instrumentalists.
Each ensemble will perform solo repertoire and join in various combinations throughout the evening. World-renowned choral arranger Mark Hayes has agreed to write a new orchestration for his best-selling “Variations on Jingle Bells” and this fun and festive number will close the concert. The performance features a blend of traditional holiday favorites alongside two major works, John Rutter’s Gloria and Bob Chilcott’s And Peace on Earth. There is no doubt that with the massive choir and outstanding instrumentalists, these holiday concerts at South Burlington High School on December 22 and Harwood High School on December 23 will be something to remember.
Wed, Dec. 22, 7:00 pm, South Burlington High School
Thu, Dec. 23, 7:00 pm, Harwood High School
Tickets: $10.00 in advance; $15.00 at the door; Children 12 and under FREE
For advance tickets call: Mary or Carl Tremmel, 130 Northshore Drive, Phone: 660 8350
Essex Children’s Choir TWELFTH NIGHT CELEBRATION directed by Constance Price
Twelfth Night is a celebration of the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, bringing to close the twelve days of Christmas. Joining the children in celebration will be a Company of Vermont Artists and the Adirondack Ballet Troupe from Plattsburgh, NY. The Gift of Light will be portrayed through song, prose, dance and instruments. Program highlights include works by Michael Praetorius, J.S. Bach, Benjamin Britten, John Rutter, Harry T. Burleigh and John Jacob Niles. You are invited to experience the choir’s tradition of closing the Holiday Season with the resounding message of peace through the power of music.
Saturday, January 8, 2011, 6:30 pm at the Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester.
Donations will be received. For more info. 802-863-9161
Vermont ACDA 