When and where to hear heartwarming Christmas and holiday music in Columbia this December
The holiday season, wherever you draw its beginning and end, offers a relatively short time to fit in all your favorite seasonal sounds.
Columbia ensembles and artists prepare early, and are now primed and ready to deliver gorgeous, heartwarming songs in a variety of settings. Here are just a few of the Christmas- and winter-themed concerts on approach this December.
Dec. 1: Candlelight Holiday with Odyssey Chamber Music Series at First Baptist Church
Columbia's exquisite, homegrown chamber music series offers the promise of a gorgeous piano duet from Peter Miyamoto and Ayako Tsuruta on Rachmaninoff's Suite No. 2, as well as renditions of Anderson's "Sleigh Ride," selections from "The Nutcracker," the work of Hugo Wolf and more. 7 p.m. Tickets are $5-$25. Visit https://www.odysseymissouri.org/ for more.
Dec. 2: Holiday Brass at Missouri United Methodist Church
Enjoy warm tones at what promises to be a vibrant holiday affair featuring Mizzou Brass, University of Missouri Brass Choir, Trumpet Ensemble, Trombone Choir, Horn Choir and Tuba Euphonium Ensemble. 7 p.m. Tickets are $5-$25. Visit https://moumc.org/concert-series for more.
Dec. 3: Columbia Community Band at Hickman High School
Ever consistent in offering crowd-pleasing holiday concerts, the longstanding community band will further the tradition with a reception to follow. 4 p.m. Visit https://www.ccbonline.org/ for more.
Dec. 6: "The Nutcracker" at Jesse Auditorium
An "international cast," including Ukrainian principals, will perform the Tchaikovsky holiday chestnut "at the peak of classical European Ballet," according to a description from the University of Missouri Concert Series. 7 p.m. Tickets are $35-$55. Visit https://concertseries.missouri.edu/ for more.
Dec. 9: "Amahl and the Night Visitors" at First Baptist Church
A wealth of talent — including Columbia Chorale, Show-Me Opera and Columbia Civic Orchestra — convene to share Gian Carlo Menotti's beloved rendering of the tale of the wise men, or magi. 7:30 p.m. Free. Visit http://cco.missouri.org/ for more.
Dec. 9: Dark Below's Rock 'n' Roll Holiday Show at Rose Music Hall
It's hard to say how many Christmas standards, if any, will receive the rock 'n' roll treatment at this local showcase. But this collection of bands forms an early present for music lovers. Scheduled to appear: Dark Below, The Many Colored Death, Black Bear Boxer and Hang Your Hate. 8 p.m. Tickets are $8-$10. Visit https://rosemusichall.com/ for more.
Dec 11: The Trans-Siberian Experience at Jesse Auditorium
"Inspired" by the rock-meets-classical Christmas approach of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, this show delivers a seasonal spectacle. 7 p.m. Tickets are $42-$59. Visit https://concertseries.missouri.edu/ for more.
Dec. 17: The Missouri Symphony presents Winter Miracle at Missouri Theatre
Maestro Wilbur Lin and the Missouri Symphony keep their holiday flame burning with this program, subtitled "A Missouri Christmas." The event promises "a medley of holiday celebrations" where cultures and musical traditions meet — as well as chances to sing along. 2 p.m. Tickets are $35. Visit https://themosy.org/ for more.
Dec. 21: The Kay Brothers Christmas at The Blue Note
Keep it in the family with one of mid-Missouri's most engaging roots-music outfits. The Kay Brothers play a percussion-forward string-band style that's sure to warm the coldest heart's cockles. 8 p.m. Tickets are $12-$25. Visit https://thebluenote.com/ for more.
Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Having a holiday concert in Columbia this year? Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com and we may update the online version of this story.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Where to hear heartwarming holiday music in Columbia this December
