As you're reading this, it's likely that someone in Iowa is practicing, memorizing, warming up or rehearsing for a choral concert in December. Iowans have planned over 60 of them from river to river, and we hope to give you a complete listing on this page.
Please let us know what events we should add (or correct) at choraliowa@iowapublicradio.org.
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1
3 p.m in Clinton - Handel's "Messiah." A sing-along performance with RiverChor. Zion Lutheran Church, Clinton.
6 p.m. in Johnston - "Thanksgiving For Christmas." First Baptist Church, Johnston.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3
7 p.m. in Fayette - Upper Iowa University Choir Christmas Concert. A "pop-up" concert at the Upper Iowa University Student Center Ballroom.
7 p.m. in Waterloo - University of Northern Iowa Women's Chorus Winter Concert. First Congregational Church, 608 W. 4th Street, Waterloo.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4
7:30 p.m. in Iowa City - Mozart's Mass in C minor, K. 427. University of Iowa Combined Choirs and Symphony, conducted by Dr. Timothy Stalter. One of the greatest unfinished masterpieces, in a completion by Robert Levin. Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5
5:45 p.m. in Decorah - Christmas at Luther: "Whom Angels Greet With Anthems Sweet."The first of five performances of this nationally renowned concert, which will be repeated through Sunday. Over 500 musicians participate, including the Luther Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Baldwin; Nordic Choir conducted Andrew Last, director of choral activities; Luther Ringers conducted by Shayla Van Hall; Cathedral Choir and Norskkor, conducted by Mark Potvin; and Aurora and Collegiate Choir, conducted by Jennaya Robison. (Later this month, the concert will be broadcast nationally, including on IPR.) Center for Faith and Life, Luther College campus.
6:30 p.m. in Des Moines - Sounds of the Season: Chamber/ Da Capo - Theodore Roosevelt High Chamber Choir and Da Capo Vocal Jazz. Franklin Public Library, Des Moines.
7:30 p.m. in Iowa City - Winter with West. West High School Choir. St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Iowa City.
7:30 p.m. in Mason City - Winter Concert.Northern Iowa Community College Concert Choir and NIACC Singers. NIACC Auditorium, Mason City.
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6
6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. in Decorah - Christmas at Luther: "Whom Angels Greet With Anthems Sweet." Center for Faith and Life, Luther College campus. (The second of five concerts, to be repeated through Sunday.)
7 p.m. in Waukee - Festival of Peace: Together We Sing. Waukee Vocal Music Boosters, with every curricular ensemble at Waukee High School. Hope Waukee, 305 NE Dartmoor Dr, Waukee.
7:30 p.m. in Des Moines - Christmas with Wartburg. Dr. Lee Nelson leads the Wartburg Choir, Castle Singers, Wind Ensemble, Ritterchor, St. Elizabeth Chorale, Kammerstreicher (chamber orchestra), Kantorei, and Handbell Choir. Another nationally renowned concert, it will also be broadcast nationally and on IPR later this month. It will be repeated in Waverly on Saturday and Sunday. Lutheran Church of Hope, Des Moines.
7:30 p.m. in Dubuque - Christmas at Heritage Center: "The Sound of Christmas." University of Dubuque choirs and wind ensemble, with special guest Elizabeth von Trapp. Butler Hall, University of Dubuque.
7:30 p.m. in Cedar Falls - "Christmas Variety Show." UNI Varsity Men's Glee Club. Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, UNI campus, Cedar Falls. (Repeated Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.)
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
1 p.m. in Dubuque - Holiday Family Concert. Dubuque Chorale et al. Five Flags Theater, Dubuque.
1 p.m. in Waukee - Festival of Peace: Together We Sing. Waukee Vocal Music Boosters, with every curricular ensemble at Waukee High School. Hope Waukee, 305 NE Dartmoor Dr, Waukee.
2 p.m. in Hiawatha - "The Sounds of Christmas" with Chorale Midwest.Bradley J. Barrett, conducting. St. Elizabeth Anne Seton Church, 1350 Lyndhurst Drive, Hiawatha. (Repeated Sunday night.)
2:30 p.m. in Cedar Falls - "Christmas Variety Show." UNI Varsity Men's Glee Club. Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, UNI campus, Cedar Falls.
3 p.m in Ames - Ames Children's Choirs Winter Concert. Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 Lincoln Way, Ames.
3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Waverly - Christmas with Wartburg. Wartburg Choir, Castle Singers, Wind Ensemble, Ritterchor, St. Elizabeth Chorale, Kammerstreicher (chamber orchestra), Kantorei, and Handbell Choir. Neumann Auditorium, Wartburg College, Waverly.
4 p.m. in Des Moines - Iowa Youth Choir: Candy Cane Concert. Franklin Junior High School, Des Moines.
7 p.m. in Mount Pleasant - Christmas with Iowa Wesleyan: "Let There Be Peace: A Service of Lessons and Carols" - Featuring over 140 musicians from Southeast Iowa including the Iowa Wesleyan Choir, Primae Voces, The Mt. Pleasant Chorale, the Southeast Iowa Symphony Chamber Orchestra, the Iowa Wesleyan Brass, and musicians from Washington High School. Iowa Wesleyan Chapel, Mt. Pleasant. (To be repeated Sunday night in Washington, IA.)
7 p.m. in Council Bluffs - IWCC Vocal Music Winter Concert. Iowa Western Community College Arts Center, Council Bluffs.
7 p.m. in Burlington - "Festival of Lessons and Carols." Burlington Bel Canto Chorale. First United Methodist Church, 421 Washington St., Burlington. (To be repeated Sunday at 2 p.m.)
7 p.m. in Orange City - "Christmas Vespers: Nine Lessons and Carols."Northwestern College A Cappella Choir, Women’s Choir, Orchestra, Brass Ensemble and more. Christ Chapel, Northwestern College, Orange City.
7 p.m. in Des Moines - "Messiah Chorus - Handel's Messiah, Part 1 plus the Hallelujah chorus"- Plymouth Chancel Choir, with 18-piece orchestra and soloists. Plymouth United Church of Christ, 4126 Ingersoll Drive, Des Moines.
7:30 p.m. in Fairfield - Chamber Singers of Southeast Iowa: "This Shining Night" - conducted by Elaine Reding. First Presbyterian Church,200 S. Main St., Fairfield. (Repeats Sunday night.)
7:30 p.m. in Decorah - Christmas at Luther: "Whom Angels Greet With Anthems Sweet." Center for Faith and Life, Luther College campus. (The fourth of five concerts, to be repeated through Sunday.)
7:30 p.m. in Dubuque - Holiday Concert. Dubuque Chorale et al. Five Flags Theater, Dubuque. (Repeated Sunday at 2 p.m.)
7:30 p.m. in Des Moines -"Julefest." Grand View University Choir and Wind Ensemble. St. John's Lutheran Church, 600 6th Ave. Des Moines.
7:30 p.m. in Cedar Falls - "Christmas Variety Show." UNI Varsity Men's Glee Club. Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, UNI campus, Cedar Falls. (Repeated Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.)
7:30 p.m. in Indianola - "Lessons and Carols." Simpson College. Smith Chapel, 401-99 N. Buxton St. Indianola.
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
2 p.m. in Waverly - Christmas with Wartburg. Wartburg Choir, Castle Singers, Wind Ensemble, Ritterchor, St. Elizabeth Chorale, Kammerstreicher (chamber orchestra), Kantorei, and Handbell Choir. Neumann Auditorium, Wartburg College, Waverly.
2 p.m. in Burlington - "Festival of Lessons and Carols." Burlington Bel Canto Chorale. First United Methodist Church, 421 Washington St., Burlington.
2 p.m. in Dubuque - Holiday Concert - Dubuque Chorale et al. Five Flags Theater, Dubuque.
2:30 p.m. in Cedar Falls - UNI Women's Chorus & Cedar Falls Woman's Club Holiday Concert. Cedar Falls Woman's Club, 304 Clay Street, Cedar Falls.
2:30 p.m. in Decorah - Christmas at Luther: "Whom Angels Greet With Anthems Sweet" - Center for Faith and Life, Luther College campus.
3 p.m. in Ames - Holiday Concert. Iowa State University Dept. of Music. Stephens Hall, ISU Campus, Ames.
3 p.m. in Orange City - "Christmas Vespers: Nine Lessons and Carols."Northwestern College A Cappella Choir, Women’s Choir, Orchestra, Brass Ensemble and more. Christ Chapel, Northwestern College, Orange City.
4 p.m. in Des Moines -"Julefest." Grand View University Choir and Wind Ensemble. St. John's Lutheran Church, 600 6th Ave. Des Moines.
4:30 p.m. in Des Moines - "Winter Songs" with the Heartland Youth Choir.Sheslow Auditorium, Drake University Campus.
7 p.m. in Washington - Christmas with Iowa Wesleyan: "Let There Be Peace: A Service of Lessons and Carols" - Featuring over 140 musicians from Southeast Iowa including the Iowa Wesleyan Choir, Primae Voces, The Mt. Pleasant Chorale, the Southeast Iowa Symphony Chamber Orchestra, the Iowa Wesleyan Brass, and musicians from Washington High School. Washington Area Performing Arts and Convention Center, Washington
7:30 p.m. in Fairfield - Chamber Singers of Southeast Iowa: "This Shining Night"- conducted by Elaine Reding. First Presbyterian Church, 200 S. Main St., Fairfield.
7:30 p.m. in Hiawatha - "The Sounds of Christmas" with Chorale Midwest.Bradley J. Barrett, conducting. St. Elizabeth Anne Seton Church, 1350 Lyndhurst Drive, Hiawatha.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10
7 p.m. in Des Moines -"Winterfest Concert Series." Riderchor, Forte, Chamber Choir, Bridges 2 Harmony. Theodore Roosevelt High School.
7:30 p.m. in Cedar Falls - UNI Holiday Concert Featuring Concert Chorale, UNI Singers & Jazz Band One. Great Hall of the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, UNI Campus, Cedar Falls.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12
7:30 p.m. in Iowa City - West High Winter Choral Concert. Arganbright Auditorium, West High School.
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13
7:30 p.m in Davenport - Nova Singers. St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2136 Brady St., Davenport. (To be repeated in Galesburg, IL, Saturday 7:30 p.m.)
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14
3 p.m. in Mount Pleasant - "HollyDaze" - Iowa Wesleyan. Iowa Wesleyan University Chapel, Mount Pleasant.
3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Des Moines - "Believe in the Magic of Christmas" - Harmony Central Chorus. Meredith Drive Reformed Church, 5128 Meredith Drive, Des Moines.
7 p.m. in Mason City - "Joy to the World" with Una Vocis Choral Ensemble. Holy Family Catholic Church, Mason City.
7 p.m. in Indianola - Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble, "Christmas with Vocal Arts."
First United Methodist Church, 307 W. Ashland, Indianola.
7 p.m. in Decorah - Decorah Chorale Christmas Concert. Decorah Lutheran Church.
7:30 p.m. in Ames - "Walking Through Winter" - Ames Chamber Artists. Collegiate Presbyterian Church, Ames.
7:30 p.m. in Cedar Rapids - John Rutter's "Magnificat," performed by the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale led by Dr. Gerald Kreitzer. With soprano Jessica Pray. St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1340 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. The chorale will be joined by St. Paul's Carillonneurs.
7:30 p.m. in Des Moines -"Christmas With The Choral Society" - Des Moines Choral Society. St. Ambrose Cathedral, 607 High St., Des Moines.
7:30 p.m. in Iowa City - "Winter Soundscapes" - The Quire of Eastern Iowa. Zion Lutheran Church, 310 North Johnson, Iowa City, IA
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15
1 p.m. in Iowa City - First Annual Iowa City West Show Choir Invitational. Hancher Auditorium.
2 p.m. in Cedar Falls - Bel Canto Cedar Valley hosts "Christmas at the Hearst Center - featuring an afternoon of holiday favorites in an intimate atmosphere. The Hearst Center for the Arts, 304 W. Seerley Blvd., Cedar Falls, IA
2 p.m. in Mason City - North Iowa Choral Society's "Season of Joy" concert.NIACC campus, 500 College Drive, Mason City.
4 p.m. in Des Moines - Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble, "Christmas With Vocal Arts." St. Augustin Catholic Church, 545 42nd St. Des Moines.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16
7 p.m. in Bettendorf - Pleasant Valley High School Choirs Holiday Concert. Pleasant Valley High School Theatre, Bettendorf.
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20
7 p.m. in Iowa City - "Holiday Voices" with Chamber Singers of Iowa City. Congretational United Church of Christ, 30 N. Clinton St., Iowa City.
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22
3 p.m. in Des Moines - "The Lessons, Reflections, and Carols of Christmas" - Umeri ("shoulders," a choir of Drake alumni) in its inaugural concert, led by its founder, Drake emerita choral director Aimee Beckmann-Collier. A new festival of lessons and carols created by the distinguished poet/librettist/ composer Charles Silvestri, who will be one of the readers. Other readers will include Marsha Ternus, former chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court; Gesine Gerhard, a dean at Drake; and elementary and high school students; and other community leaders. Music is by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Morten Lauridsen, Healey Willan, and Iowa composers Rene Clausen, Elaine Hagenberg, and Allen Koepke. St. Ambrose Cathedral, Sixth Avenue and High Street, in downtown Des Moines.
2 p.m. in Cedar Rapids - Vocal Artists of Iowa Winter Concert. St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids.
7 p.m. in Iowa City - Vocal Artists of Iowa Winter Concert. St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Iowa City.
