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​December 2025
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Tuesday, December 9th, 7:00PM (West Los Angeles, UCLA campus)
UCLA Early Music Ensemble : "Susanna's Tears: Storytelling through Consorts and Lute Songs"
The UCLA Early Music Ensemble demonstrates the unique sonorities of various historical instrument families in homogeneous consorts of violas da gamba, Renaissance recorders, Baroque double reeds (oboe, musette, bassoon), historical brass, historic double reeds (shawms, dulcian), crumhorns, and voices accompanied by lutes and harpsichord. Come experience multiple settings of such popular tunes as Susanne un jour and Flow My Tears by various composers and performing ensembles.
Admission: FREE
Schoenberg Music Building, 445 Charles E Young Dr E,
Schoenberg Hall (note venue change!) north end of building near Music Library
Parking: Structure 2 off Hilgard ave
more info: Contact: mwinkle@ucla.edu
Saturday, December 13, 2025: 6:00 - 9:00pm (Claremont)
Lilia Ensemble : Luminaria Nights @ California Botanic Garden
Come find your glow this winter during Luminaria Nights at California Botanic Garden. This winter lights experience is like no other in Southern California, featuring peaceful luminarias, food and drink, and live music at three beautifully illuminated musical venues. Get your tickets today as some nights will sell out!
California Botanic Garden - 1500 N College Avenue, Claremont CA 91711
more info: https://www.liliaensemble.org/performancedates
Sunday Dec 14 7:00 PM (Downtown LA)
LA Master Chorale : ENGLISH CATHEDRAL CHRISTMAS
The Master Chorale’s beloved holiday concerts return, including English Cathedral Christmas. Imagine that you’re in the majesty of Canterbury Cathedral, experiencing the great, unbroken tradition of British choral works from the 16th century to the present. The English holiday tradition includes centuries-old pilgrimages to cathedrals and churches for community celebrations of hope and joy.
PROGRAM (Early music and works by modern composers):
HENRY VIII Pastime with good company
THOMAS WEELKES Hosanna to the Son of David
THOMAS TALLIS O nata lux de lumine
THOMAS TALLIS Alleluya
WILLIAM BYRD This Day Christ Was Born
ARTISTS : GRANT GERSHON conductor, 62 singers, organ
Listen Up! Pre-Concert Lecture Alan Chapman, KUSC Host, Grant Gershon, Artistic Director
Tickets: $62-$259
Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Avenue
Parking under venue
more info: https://lamasterchorale.org/show-details/english-cathedral-christmas-2025
Sunday, December 14. 7:30pm. (Palos Verdes)
Peninsula Community Church - Messiah Sing-Along
Peninsula Community Church invites the entire community to join in celebrating its 1st annual community sing-along performance of Handel’s Messiah! complete with organ, orchestra and professional soloists. YOU are the Chorus! This uplifting and heartwarming tradition, filled with sublime music, is sure to add sparkle and glow to this blessed Christmas season. Bring your own score or pick one up at the door! (Supply is limited).
Admission is FREE.
Peninsula Community Church 5640 Crestridge Road Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90278
more info: Event Phone: 310-377-4661
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Friday Dec 19 730pm-9:30pm (Santa Monica)
Baroque Collegium LA: J.S. Bach - Christmas Oratorio, selections from Handel - Messiah, sing-along on Messiah choruses
Concert performance with Baroque orchestra, soloists, and chorus sing-a-longs
Directed by Michael Raleigh.
Join us for a celebratory holiday season concert at St. Augustine by the Sea in Santa Monica, featuring LA's premier baroque ensemble. Hear the exuberant trumpets and festive drums of Bach's Christmas Oratorio and feel the power of the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah. The audience will have the opportunity to sing along with BCLA on some of the famous choruses from Messiah and scores are available for sale at the door.
Free, but RSVP recommended:
St. Augustine By-the-Sea Episcopal Church 1227 Fourth Street, Santa Monica 90401
Parking is available directly across Fourth Street in the Santa Monica City Parking Structure #2.
more info:https://baroquecollegiumla.com/
Friday, December 19, 2025 7:30 - 9:30pm (Doors open at 6:30pm) (Downtown LA)
DREAM Orchestra, Choir: Messiah (Christmas portion), and other holiday music
The DREAM Orchestra, the Opera Chorus of Los Angeles, and the Cathedral Choir, Featuring special guest Ray Ushikubo, violinist.
Experience the power of Handel's masterpiece in person. Prepare to be moved by the soaring voices and enchanting melodies that will fill the sacred space. Join the Los Angeles Dream Orchestra, the Opera Chorus of Los Angeles, and the Cathedral Choir under the direction of Maestro Daniel Suk for an unforgettable evening of holiday music.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of timeless masterpieces and festive favorites that capture the true spirit of the Christmas season. Surrounded by the breathtaking architecture of the Cathedral, this concert promises to be a night of joy, inspiration, and celebration.
Program Highlights; Handel’s Messiah (Christmas portion, Vivaldi’s Winter, Beloved holiday classics
Tickets $44 Admission is for general seating on a first come, first serve basis, and
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels 555 West Temple Street Los Angeles, CA 90012-2707
parking at Cathedral $12.
more info: https://olacathedral.org/events/handels-messiah
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Saturday, December 20, 2025: 4:00pm (Glendale)
Lilia Ensemble: Winter Meditations Concert
Experience the music of the season with Lilia Ensemble. Celebrating traditions old - and older - Lilia Ensemble will share some stunning arrangements of pieces on this Winter Solstice eve - welcoming light, peace and hope into the new year.
Admission is free, with donations accepted at the door.
First Baptist Church of Glendale 209 North Louise Street, Glendale, CA, 91206
more info: https://www.liliaensemble.org/performancedates
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Saturday Dec 20 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM (Long Beach) (repeats Dec 21 in Los Angeles)
Musica Angelica: A Baroque Christmas in Germany
Traditional German baroque holiday music in an intimate and exquisite concert that combines vocal and instrumental compositions from Bach, Handel and Telemann featuring our Maestro Martin Haselböck on the organ together with other special guest artists. Celebrate the magic sounds of the season during this special time of year.
Program: Trumpet Concerto, TWV 51:D7 | Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Larghetto from Concerto Pastorale in G major | Johann Melchior Molter (1696-1765)
Gloria in excelsis Deo | George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
“Let the bright Seraphim” from Samson, HWV 57
Il Decèmbre, im Christmonat from Neuer und sehr curios- Musicalischer Instrumental-Calender | Gregor Joseph Werner (1693-1766)
Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51 | Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
tickets $0.00-$80.00
First Congregational Church of Long Beach 241 Cedar Avenue Long Beach, CA 90802
Paid Parking is available at the Civic Center Parking Garage - 332 W Broadway, Long Beach 90802.
more info: https://www.musicaangelica.org/
Sunday Dec 21 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (mid-Wilshire district Los Angeles)
(repeats Dec 20 in Long Beach)
Musica Angelica: A Baroque Christmas in Germany
Traditional German baroque holiday music in an intimate and exquisite concert that combines vocal and instrumental compositions from Bach, Handel and Telemann featuring our Maestro Martin Haselböck on the organ together with other special guest artists. Celebrate the magic sounds of the season during this special time of year.
Program: Trumpet Concerto, TWV 51:D7 | Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Larghetto from Concerto Pastorale in G major | Johann Melchior Molter (1696-1765)
Gloria in excelsis Deo | George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
“Let the bright Seraphim” from Samson, HWV 57
Il Decèmbre, im Christmonat from Neuer und sehr curios- Musicalischer Instrumental-Calender | Gregor Joseph Werner (1693-1766)
Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51 | Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Following the concert, Musica Angelica will have a hosted reception in the MayFlower Courtyard. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served.
tickets $0.00-$80.00
First Congregational Church Shatto chapel 540 South Commonwealth Avenue Los Angeles, 90020
free parking in church lot
more info: https://www.musicaangelica.org/
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Sunday, December 21, 2025: 10:00am (Glendale)
Lilia Ensemble : Special Music for Sunday Service
Lilia Ensemble will perform as part of the Sunday Service
First Baptist Church of Glendale 209 North Louise Street, Glendale, CA, 91206
more info: https://www.liliaensemble.org/performancedates
December 21, 2025 7:00PM (150 minutes) (Downtown LA)
LA Master Chorale: Messiah
Performers: Grant Gershon, conductor, Sunmi Shin, soprano, Laura Smith Roethe, mezzo-soprano, Robert Norman, tenor, Derrell Acon, bass, 48 singers and chamber orchestra
Joyous refrains and exultant arias, including the iconic "Hallelujah" Chorus, will fill the concert hall this holiday season. This Baroque masterwork, expressing the themes of hope, redemption and grace, showcases the magnificent artistry and skill of our celebrated chorus, complemented by four exceptional guest artists. Join us for this wonderful holiday tradition!
ARTISTS: GRANT GERSHON, conductor, ANNA SCHUBERT, soprano, LINDSAY PATTERSON ABDOU, alto, JOHN LEE KEENAN, tenor, CHUNG UK LEE, bass
Listen Up! Pre-concert lecture :Jennifer Miller Hammel, KUSC host, Grant Gershon, artistic director. Concert with intermission.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Our COVID-19 policy is available.
Tickets: $79-$219
Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Avenue
Parking under venue
more info: https://lamasterchorale.org/show-details/handels-messiah-2025
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Sunday, December 21, 2025, two performances, 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Claremont)
Claremont Symphony Orchestra : Annual Messiah Sing-Along Concert: Messiah Part I plus Hallelujah Chorus
Conducted by Music Director Robert Sage, Thalia Moore, soprano, Meghan Linnington, Mezzo-soprano, James Salazar, tenor, Eric Castro, baritone
FREE
Pomona College campus., Bridges Hall of Music, 150 E. 4th Street (corner of 4th and College), Claremont, CA
more info: https://www.claremontso.org/
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Monday, December 22, 2025, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Long Beach)
Long Beach Camerata Singers and Tesserae Baroque: Handel’s Messiah
Tesserae Baroque joins Long Beach Camerata Singers in their 18th Annual performance of Handel’s beloved masterpiece. Join us for a powerful, joy-filled performance packed with soaring melodies, dramatic moments, and the famous “Hallelujah” chorus. It’s a night of music, meaning, and holiday cheer!
Tickets: VIP Seating: $60, Preferred Seating: $46
Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church, 5195 Stearns Street Long Beach, CA 90815
more info:
https://longbeachcameratasingers.org/
https://tesseraebaroque.org/event/the-long-beach-camerata-singers-handels-messiah/
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December 22, 2025 7:30PM (Downtown LA)
LA Master Chorale: Messiah Sing-Along
Don’t be shy! You are the artist! Sing along with the world-class Master Chorale vocalists in this beloved holiday work. This year marks the 45th year for this annual celebration of music and community. Two thousand voices lifted together in the Walt Disney Concert Hall! There’s no experience quite like the Master Chorale’s Messiah Sing-Along.
ARTISTS: GRANT GERSHON, conductor, ANDREA ZOMORODIAN, soprano, SHABNAM KALBASI, alto, EVAN ROBERTS, tenor, JAMES HAYDEN, bass, 20 singers, soloists, chamber orchestra
YOU are the chorus!
Tickets $49-$149
Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Avenue
Parking under venue
More info: https://lamasterchorale.org/show-details/messiah-sing-along-2025
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January 2026
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Saturday, January 10, 2026, 7:30 p.m. (Westchester) (repeats Jan 11 in Monrovia)
Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble : Joyeux Noel
Celebrate Epiphany with a concert of noëls, motets and carols -- complete with a musette and hurdy gurdy! Jouyssance tours through 600 years of French holiday music, from the haunting sounds of the St. Martial school to 16th century favorites. The concert will also include an appearance by Southern California's answer to Anonymous 4, the Lilia Ensemble. Join Jouyssance for a special holiday reception after the concert.
Tickets: $25 General Admission, $20 Seniors and SCEMS members, $10 Students with ID, Free Admission for ACDA members and their students
Holy Nativity Episcopal Church 6700 W. 83rd Street, Westchester
street parking
more info: www.jouyssance.org
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 4 p.m. (Monrovia) (repeats Jan 10 in Westchester)
Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble : Joyeux Noel
Celebrate Epiphany with a concert of noëls, motets and carols -- complete with a musette and hurdy gurdy! Jouyssance tours through 600 years of French holiday music, from the haunting sounds of the St. Martial school to 16th century favorites. The concert will also include an appearance by Southern California's answer to Anonymous 4, the Lilia Ensemble. Join Jouyssance for a special holiday reception after the concert.
Tickets: $25 General Admission, $20 Seniors and SCEMS members, $10 Students with ID, Free Admission for ACDA members and their students
St. Luke's Episcopal Church 122 California Avenue, Monrovia
more info: www.jouyssance.org
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Master Calendars
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Credit: Renaissance minstrels in Augsburg (1520). iStock.com/© gameover2012
Early Music Around Town
A timely shortlist of local early music concerts and events.
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To view the entire season of concerts and events, consult the current Master Calendar.
Please note that SCEMS does not present or sponsor concerts.
The listings below include early music related concerts and events offered by organizations throughout the Southern California area. Readers are advised to call ahead to verify events, times, and ticket availability, which are subject to change.