Three Westside holiday concerts this weekend can put even the grumpiest and bad-tempered person in a festive mood. As an added bonus, all concerts include Palisades performers.
A Santa Monica Christmas Concert will take place at 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 3, at the First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica, 1008 11th Street in Santa Monica.
Dr. James Smith and the Chancel Choir with guest singers will perform Haydn’s Te Deum, Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols and numerous favorite Christmas Carols. The Mark Twain alumni handbell ringers will participate in this concert, too.
This event is free, but donations are welcomed. A reception in Simkins Hall will follow the performance click here.
Joel Lish conducts the Palisades Symphony.
Brentwood Palisades Chorale and the Palisades Symphony will perform on Sunday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Pacific Palisades Community United Methodist Church, 801 Vía De La Paz. The concert is free.
The symphony is under the direction of Conductor Joel B. Lish. The Brentwood Palisades Chorale is led by Conductor Susan S. Rosenstein.
This concert will feature soprano Renee Burkett Stuppler and mezzo-soprano Lydia Brown.
Music planned includes Overture to Il Signor Brushino by Gioachino Rossini, Gloria by Antonia Vivaldi and Magnificat by John Rutter.
The Symphony, a nonprofit, was founded in 1966 by Lish click here.
The 180-voices of the Angel City Chorale will perform this weekend.
Photo: MEL STAVE
Angel City Chorale, founded in 1993, will perform at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 2 and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 3 at Royce Hall, UCLA, 10745 Dickson Court. Livestream also is available of the in-person concert on Sunday.
Holiday Homecoming is the title of the show and the 180-voice chorale, under artistic director Sue Fink will not disappoint. Some of the songs planned are Arbolito de Navidad, and The Light of Hope, an original song from Fink and longtime choir soloist standout Dr. Reverend Donald Paredes.
There will be several Hanukkah songs, including Judah and His Maccabees and the moving Hine Ma Tov.
The Chorale also promise new orchestrated arrangements of familiar titles God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”
Ticket prices range from $19 to $99 click here.