With loads of events on the holiday calendar, music that celebrates the season might be the best gift to give. The following classical events and concerts, listed in order of appearance, promise to bring winter warmth and musical thrills. (The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir is also offering holiday concerts.)
San Francisco Symphony: Davies Symphony Hall is a one-stop shop for holiday cheer, with concerts, films with live orchestra, and special events galore. The season includes Handel’s “Messiah” (Dec. 5-6), a “Deck the Hall” concert (Dec. 7), “Peter and the Wolf” with Nickelodeon “”Blues Clues and You!” star Joshua Dela Cruz as narrator (Dec. 14), “Holiday Gaiety with Peaches Christ” (Dec. 17), “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (Dec. 21-22), and more.
Details: Dec. 5-22, $24.50-up; sfsymphony.org.
“Holiday Spectacular”: Symphony San Jose is offering this special event with the orchestra, SSJ Chorale, the Cantabile Youth Singers, New Ballet, and other guests. The program includes carols, popular songs, and the show’s tribute sing-along, “The 12 Days of Silicon Valley.”
Details: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 7; California Theatre, San Jose; $35-$115; symphonysanjose.org.
Kitka: Now in its 45th season, the Bay Area’s revered all-woman vocal ensemble’s annual winter concert tour is spotlighting a new album titled “Kolo,” a root word from Balkan, Baltic, and Slavic cultures meaning circle, wheel, or a communal line dance. With the group’s lustrous vocal blend, it’s bound to be captivating — and an excellent learning experience for families.
Details: Dec. 6 in Belvedere, Dec. 13 in Santa Cruz, Dec. 14 in Menlo Park, Oakland Dec. 18 and San Francisco Dec. 21; $27.50-$55; kitka.org.
“Irish Christmas in America”: The touring musical group presents songs, dances, and storytelling with a love for all things Irish; the one-of-a-kind program includes a Gaelic “Silent Night” and more. The tour includes one night only in downtown Livermore. All ages are welcome.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, Bankhead Theater, $25-$55; Livermorearts.org.
“Messiah”: Handel’s oratorio is a holiday favorite; there may be no greater music to experience this time of year. Many companies perform it, but under conductor Jeffrey Thomas, the American Bach Soloists and Choir have risen to the top with a tradition of excellence in the Bay Area. This year, they return to Grace Cathedral in San Francisco for two performances.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11-12; $25-$135; americanbach.org.
“In Winter’s Glow”: The San Francisco Girls Chorus joins forces with the New Century Chamber Orchestra for a holiday concert featuring the ethereal vocal sound of the chorus under conductor Valérie Sainte-Agathe, and the vibrant playing of the New Century players led by Daniel Hope.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, 1st Church UCC Berkeley; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Tiburon; and 2 p.m. St. Marks Lutheran, San Francisco; $35-$80; ncco.org.
“The San Jose Nutcracker”: For a dance-infused new look at the time-honored “Nutcracker,” New Ballet and Symphony San Jose are teaming up to present the holiday classic with choreography by Dalia Rawson and choreography by the Mexican folk dance company Los Lupenos de San Jose. It’s a “Nutcracker” with new spirit.
Details: Dec. 13-23, with performances at 2 and 7 p.m., California Theater, San Jose; $26.50-$31.50; symphonysanjose.org.
Musica Pacifica: The Bay Area-based quartet Musica Pacifica has a great program in store at Kohl Mansion in Burlingame. This isn’t your usual quartet — the core ensemble is recorder, violin, cello/gamba, and harpsichord; it expands to add oboe, percussion and more. Joining the group is soprano Chea Kang to sing holiday favorites and classics.
Details: 7 p.m. Dec. 14; $62 adult, $60 senior, $30 age 30 and under; musicatkohl.org.
“Peace”: The Soweto Gospel Choir returns to Cal Performances to sing its uplifting holiday concert featuring gospel songs and spirituals, along with contemporary songs by Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and others.
Details: 3 p.m. Dec. 14, Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley; $15-$120; calperformances.org.
“Let Us Break Bread Together”: The Oakland Symphony’s annual holiday concert always yields a celebration; this year’s program features music director Kedrick Armstrong leading the orchestra and Bay Area guest artists in holiday songs and a tribute to the late, great Whitney Houston.
Details: 4 p.m. Dec. 14, Paramount Theatre, Oakland; $25-$92; oaklandsymphony.org.
“Holiday Spectacular 2025!”: The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, one of the Bay Area’s most beloved vocal ensembles, performs “Holiday Spectacular: Home for the Holidays,” a traditional, always-uplifting event filled with holiday cheer and vocal splendor, with performances in Berkeley and San Francisco.
Details: 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 20 at Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley; calperformances.org; and 4 and 7 p.m. Dec. 24 at Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco; $30-$105; Cityboxoffice.com.