Fa la la la la: Holiday music decks the concert halls

Pretty much now through Christmas you can experience the holidays in all its musical glory as Tucson orchestras and choirs put on their annual winter concerts.

Let’s face it, the holidays are big for music. There’s so much rich repertoire to draw from: the pop hits of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,’ to the classical gems of Handel’s “Messiah!” And it all starts with several concerts this weekend.

• Arizona Repertory Singers, “Songs of Sweet Starlight”: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, 5150 N. Valley View Road; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Benedictine Monastery, 800 N. Country Club Road. This is the 43-voice ensemble’s first holiday concert since its longtime conductor Jeffry Jahn died Feb. 20. The choir is now led by Thomas E. Lerew, a University of Arizona doctoral student who described the holiday program as an “eclectic mix of styles and eras, centered conceptually on stars” in keeping with the choir’s idea of looking heavenward for inspiration. The 90-minute program features works by Felix Mendelssohn, Bartholdy, Eric Barnum, René Clausen and John Rutter. Tickets: $15 at the door. Details: arsingers.org

• In Concert and Tucson Friends of Traditional Music presents “Irish Christmas in America”: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway on the Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind campus. We are among a handful of cities to get this popular touring show featuring a cast of pretty notable Irish musicians. Now in its 11th season, this year’s show features vocalist Teresa Horgan and Séamus Begley, who won the Irish public broadcaster TG4’s Traditional Singer of the Year award. Tickets: $27 in advance with discounts available at inconcerttucson.com, Antigone Books and Folk Shop or by phone at 1-800-595-4849; $3 more at the door. Details: 981-1475.

• Reveille Men’s Chorus in “On Holiday”: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at Leo Rich Theatre, 260 S. Church Ave. Humor and holly are on tap in this whimsical and somewhat wacky survey of all things holly jolly, from the traditional “While Shepherds Watched their Flocks” to the slightly twisted “Chanukah in Santa Monica” and “Forgotten Carols from Other Lands.” The choir, 60 voices strong, is led by Artistic Director Shawn Cullen. Tickets: $25 through reveillemenschorus.org or ticketmaster.com

• Classical guitarist Eduardo Minozzi Costa “Christmas Concert”: 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at Sunrise Chapel, 8421 E. Wrightstown Road. The in-demand University of Arizona graduate and Brazilian guitarist performs holiday repertoire with some celebratory Bossa Nova beats. The program includes his arrangements of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” and João Gilberto’s “Desafinado,” and Othon Filho’s “Caixa de Fósforo.” Tickets: $20 at the door or by calling 298-1245.

• Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus Holiday Concert: 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Crowder Hall at the University of Arizona’s Fred Fox School of Music, at North Park Avenue and East Speedway. Julian Ackerley, accompanied by a small orchestra, will lead the choristers in Christmas carols, sacred songs and Hanukkah selections. A concert highlight will be when the Touring Chorus joins voices with the Young Men’s Ensemble for several movements from Vivaldi’s “Gloria.” Tickets: $15 to $20, $8 for children 12 and younger, through the Boys Chorus office, 5770 E. Pima St., or online at boyschorus.org Details: 296-6277.

• Sons of Orpheus in the 19th annual “Christmas at San Xavier” with the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus: 6 and 9 p.m. nightly Tuesday, Dec. 8, through Thursday, Dec. 10, at the Mission San Xavier del Bac, 1950 W. San Xavier Road off Interstate 19. Tickets: $90 at patronatosanxavier.org/event/2015-christmas-concerts-at-the-mission All of the early shows are sold out.

• Sons of Orpheus holiday concerts: 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 8650 N. Shannon Road, $10 at the door; and 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at Rincon Country West RV Resort, 4555 S. Mission Road. Details: sonsoforpheus.org

• Rialto Theatre presents “Christmas with the Celts”: 8 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Rialto, 318 E. Congress St. Contemporary Christmas classics (“Little Drummer Boy,” “Silent Night”) get some high-stepping Irish treatment alongside ancient Celtic hymns. Tickets: $29 to $37 through ticketfly.com Details: railtotheatre.com

• Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Handel’s “Messiah”: 8 p.m. Dec. 12 and 2 p.m. Dec. 13 at Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive. Guest conductor Peter Bay is at the podium with the TSO Chorus and orchestra for this classic holiday treasure. Tickets: $45 and $55 through ticketmaster.com; half-price for children.

• Tucson Symphony Orchestra, “Magic of Christmas”: 4 p.m. Dec. 19 and 2 p.m. Dec. 20 at Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. University of Arizona dancers join the orchestra and TSO Chorus for Christmas carols and holiday gems. Tickets: $30 to $77, half-priced for children, through ticketmaster.com Details: tucsonsymphony.org

• The Rialto Theatre, “The Socials: A Soulful Christmas”: 8 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Rialto, 318 E. Congress St. Tucson ensemble shows off the holiday’s soul in this all-ages concert. Tickets: $16 in advance at ticketfly.com, $20 day of show. Details: rialtotheatre.com

• True Concord Voices & Orchestra, “Lessons and Carols by Candlelight”: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Episcopal Church of the Apostles, 12111 N. La Cholla Blvd. in Oro Valley; 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at St. Francis in the Valley Episcopal Church, 600 S. La Cañada Drive in Green Valley; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 and 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church, 440 N. Campbell Ave.; and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 3738 N. Old Sabino Canyon Road. Eric Holtan will lead the ensemble in a program that includes works by Britten, Stephen Paulus, Green Valley’s Gerald Near and others. Tickets: $25 to $40 — $30 for Green Valley — and $5 for students with ID in advance at trueconcord.org/buy-tickets or at the door. Details: trueconcord.org

• Ten Tenors, “Home for the Holidays”: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. The internationally feted ensemble injects the holiday spirit with a little rock and delicious harmonies. Tickets: $29 to $75 through foxtucsontheatre.ticketforce.com It’s $2 more day of show.