Bay Area classical and choral musicians offer holiday concerts galore, with classic carols, sing-alongs and sacred music, including — of course — Handel’s “Messiah.”

San Francisco Choral Society: Under director Robert Geary, the 135-voice group performs Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio.” 8 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, $28-$34, St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker St., S.F., www.cityboxoffice.com

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir: D’Wayne Wiggins is host at the 33rd annual holiday concert, “With One Voice.” 7 p.m. Dec. 1, $17-$47. Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, www.ticketmaster.com

Ragazzi Continuo: The adult a cappella choir’s “An English Christmas” is inspired by tunes from the King’s College Cambridge Lessons and Carols service. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 178 Clinton St., Redwood City; also at 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1755 Clay St., S.F., $15-$25, www.ragazzicontinuo.org

Solstice Sings for the Season: The female vocal ensemble performs a mix of traditional and lesser-known songs of peace, justice, childhood wonder. 8 p.m. Dec. 1, $20 suggested donation. Congregational Church, 225 Tilton Ave., San Mateo, www.solsticesings.com

Mission Peak Chamber Singers: Directed by Ofer dal Lal, the group’s 33rd annual Christmas-at-the-Mission concert is called “Out With the Old, In With the New.” 8 p.m. Dec. 1, 4 p.m. Dec. 2, $15-$20. Old San Mission Jose, 43300 Mission Blvd., Fremont, www.brownpapertickets.com

KITKA’s Wintersongs: The annual holiday program by the women’s ensemble showcases seasonal music from a variety of Eastern European ethnic and spiritual traditions. $10-$35. Opens Dec. 2 (4 p.m., St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park), continues at various locations, concluding at 8 p.m. Dec. 21 at Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento St., S.F., www.kitka.org, www.oldfirstconcerts.org

San Francisco Symphony Deck the Hall: Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser conducts the orchestra and children’s choruses in the program with appearances by ballet students and members of the “Beach Blanket Babylon” cast. 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 2, $46-$66. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F., www.sfsymphony.org

Cappella SF: S.F. Early Music Society presents the professional choral group directed by Ragnar Bohlin in the faith-themed program “Neither From Heaven Nor From Earth” of music by Josquin, Allegri, Schütz and Couperin. 4 p.m. Dec. 2, $12-$45. St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1111 O’Farrell St., S.F., sfems.org

Ragazzi Boys Chorus: “For the Beauty of the Earth” includes music from “Deck the Halls” to Wendell Whalum’s “West Indian De Mornin’ Come” to carols. 3 p.m. Dec. 2 at Messiah Lutheran Church, 1835 Valota Road, Redwood City; also at 4 p.m. Dec. 9 at Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento St., S.F.,$5-$29, www.ragazzi.org, www.oldfirstconcerts.org

Pacifica Edge Voices: “A Rose in Winter” includes music by Bruckner, Messiaen and handbells accompanying a “jazzy ‘Silent Night’ meet Libby Larsen’s six-part ‘Ringeltanze.’” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, $25-$35. Green Room, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F., www.cityboxoffice.com

Opera Parallèle: The contemporary opera troupe brings back its holiday production of Rachel Portman’s “The Little Prince” by popular demand. 7 p.m. Dec. 7, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 8, 2 p.m. Dec. 9, $25-$75. Marines’ Memorial Theatre, 609 Sutter St., S.F., www.operaparallele.org

Mayflower Chorus: The 60-voice group, with instrumentalists and ensembles, presents “Sounds of the Season.” 8 p.m. Dec. 7, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m Dec. 8, $8-$22. Marin Center, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael, https://tickets.marincenter.org/

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus: The festive holiday show is “Brassy and Sassy.” 8 p.m. Dec. 7, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Dec. 8, $25-$110. Nourse, 275 Hayes St., S.F., www.cityboxoffice.com

Sing You a Merry Christmas: The one-hour carol sing-along is for children and families. 11 a.m. Dec. 8, Dec, 15 and Dec. 22, 3 p.m. Dec. 21, $10-$25. Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., S.F., www.cityboxoffice.com

S.F. Boys Chorus: “Baroque around the Christmas Tree” includes Baroque masterworks by Bach and Durante and tunes for the season. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, $25-$55. Calvary Presbyterian Church, 2515 Fillmore St., S.F. www.sfbc.org

Peter and the Wolf: The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra plays Prokofiev’s classic, with conductor Christian Reif and and narrator Richard Dreyfuss. 2 p.m. Dec. 9. $25-$125. Davies Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F., www.sfsymphony.org

San Francisco Choral Artists: “Jingle! Angels! Silent! Merry!” includes beloved seasonal music from around the world “from sublime to silly, old to new, and with (optional) audience singing.” 4 p.m. Dec. 9, $12.50-$28. St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1111 O’Farrell St., S.F., www.brownpapertickets.com

San Francisco Youth Chorus: “Winter Memories” includes carols, hymns and classic favorites from Britten to Bing and in Spanish, Hebrew, German and more. 4 p.m. Dec. 9. $14, free for children 12 and younger. Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 2850 19th Ave., S.F., www.brownpapertickets.com

Merri-Achi Christmas: Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez celebrates Mexico’s Christmas traditions. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, $29-$100. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F., www.sfsymphony.org

Golden Bough: Margie Butler, Paul Espinoza and Kathy Sierra performs rare versions of Celtic songs of winter and their unique take on better known Christmas carols. 8 p.m. Dec. 14, $5-$25. Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento St., S.F., www.oldfirstconcerts.org

Grace Cathedral Choir of Men & Boys: A tradition since 1947, “A Cathedral Christmas” offers classic carols and sacred masterpieces with full orchestra and organ. 3 p.m. Dec. 15-16 and Dec. 22-23, 7:30 p.m, Dec. 21, $15-$60. Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., S.F., www.cityboxoffice.com

Merit Scholars Holiday Concert: Community School of Music and Arts’ annual show features students ages 10-18 playing works by Beethoven, J.C.F. Bach, Mozart, Sammartini, Bolling and Tchaikovsky and Hanukkah and Christmas classics. 5 p.m. Dec. 15, free. Tateuchi Hall, , 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View, arts4all.org

Chanticleer: The all-male choir’s holiday concert combines “soaring motets of Palestrina, Corteccia, Sweelinck and Lassus with favorite carols.” 8 p.m. Dec. 15 and Dec. 23, $35-$75. St. Ignatius Church, University of San Francisco, 650 Parker St., S.F., www.cityboxoffice.com

Sonic Meditations: San Francisco Contemporary Music Players’ community sing-along features Cornelius Cardew’s “The Great Learning, Paragraph 7” and Pauline Oliveros’ “Sonic Meditations III.” 3 p.m. Dec. 16, free. Women’s Building, 3543 18th St., #8, S.F., www.sfcmp.org

Oakland Symphony: Michael Morgan conducts the orchestra and choral groups in “Swing and Soul: Let Us Break Bread Together,” which takes inspiration from Nina Simone and Fats Domino and includes guest vocalist The Dynamic Miss Faye Carol. 4 p.m. Dec. 16, $15-$60. Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, www.oaklandsymphony.org

Young Women’s Choral Project: “Cherish the Old, Embrace the New” is a winter showcase featuring four choruses singing solo and together in a program of music by Britten, La Rocca, Betinis, Rutter, Bach, Brahms and David Contes. 4 p.m. Dec. 16, $5-$35. Calvary Presbyterian Church, 2515 Fillmore St., S.F., www.brownpapertickets.com

Schola Cantorum Silicon Valley: Gregory Wait conducts the choral group in music for the holidays arranged by British composer John Rutter. 3 p.m. Dec. 16, $19-$33. Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View, www.mvcpa.com

Mission Dolores Basilica Choir: The group’s 27th annual Christmas concert is part of the church’s centennial celebration; the program features Gounod’s “Messe Solennelle.” 5 p.m. Dec. 16, $20-$30. 3321 16th St., S.F., www.cityboxoffice.com

The Choral Project: “Winter’s Gifts: Journeys” features music from various faiths and cultures across the globe and accompaniment by the San Jose Chamber Orchestra. 7 p.m. Dec. 16, $10-$35. Mission Santa Clara, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, www.brownpapertickets.com

San Francisco Renaissance Voices: The holiday performance, a Mexican Pastorela, retells the nativity story from the perspective of the shepherds who were the first to see the Christ child. 8 p.m. Dec. 16, $20-$30. Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, 1750 29th Ave., S.F., www.sfrvoices.org

San Francisco Girls Chorus: Valérie Sainte-Agathe leads the nearly 300-voice group and the Kronos Quartet and Musae in “Holidays at Davies.” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, $30-$62. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F., www.cityboxoffice.com

A Brass and Organ Christmas: Local brass musicians appear in a 90-minute, two-part concert also featuring the church’s 7,466-pipe Aeolian-Skinner organ. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, $15-$60. Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., S.F., www.cityboxoffice.com

S.F. Symphony Festival of Carols: Ragnar Bohlin conducts the San Francisco Symphony Chorus and San Francisco Girls Chorus in the concert featuring brass musicians and organist Jonathan Dimmock. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23, $25-$90. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F., www.sfsymphony.org

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Home for the Holidays: The concert celebrates its 28th anniversary with special guest vocalist Marnie Breckenridge. 5 and 7 and 9 p.m. Dec. 24, $30-$40. Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., S.F., www.cityboxoffice.com

MESSIAH

George Frideric Handel’s oratorio has become a holiday classic. Here are local performances.

Valley Concert Chorale: The Tri-Valley’s longtime chorus hosts its annual Sing-It-Yourself Messiah. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30, $15. Asbury United Methodist Church 4743 East Ave., Livermore, www.valleyconcertchorale.org

San Francisco City Chorus: The open-community chorus’ yearly “Sing-Along Messiah” is preceded by a crafts fair. 7 p.m. Dec. 9, $20. Lakeside Presbyterian Church, 201 Eucalyptus St., S.F., www.sfcitychorus.org

Handel’s Sing it Yourself Messiah: The Golden Gate Orchestra and Chorus’ annual participatory event showcases soloists Yi Triplett, Chrystal Philippi, William Wiggins, Kittinant Chinsamran, Franklin Beau Davis and Stephen Harris. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, $25-$45. Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F., www.cityboxoffice.com

American Bach Soloists: In its 21st year at San Francisco’s majestic church, American Bach Choir and ABS period-instrument specialists perform “Messiah” directed by Jeffrey Thomas, with soloists Mary Wilson, Eric Jurenas, Aaron Sheehan and Jesse Blumberg. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12-14, $20-$125. Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., S.F., www.americanbach.org

San Francisco Symphony and Chorus: Ragnar Bohlin directs the chorale and Jane Glover conducts Handel’s masterwork, with solo vocalists Ying Fang, Elizabeth DeShong, Nicholas Phan and Joshua Hopkins. 8 p.m. Dec. 14-15, $55-$175. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F., www.sfsymphony.org

Messiah Sing Along/Play Along: Stephen Sano conducts the annual concert, with orchestral parts provided and scores for singers to buy at the door. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14, $13-$23. Memorial Church, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford University, http://sto.stanfordtickets.org/

Sing It Yourself Messiah Pub Crawl: Golden Gate Symphony and Chorus bring their participatory holiday classic to the streets. 6 p.m. Dec. 16, donation requested. Southern Pacific Brewing Company, 620 Treat Ave., S.F.; also at 8 p.m., Dec. 17 at The Homestead, 2301 Folsom St., S.F., www.goldengatesymphony.org

Schola Cantorum Silicon Valley: The 100-voice choir performs its 52nd annual sing-along “Messiah” led by maestro Gregory Wait. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, $26. Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View, www.scholacantorum.orgAmerican Bach Soloists MessiahCalendarchoralClassical MusicKITKA's WintersongsMessiahOakland SymphonyRagazzi Boys ChorusRagazzi ContinuoSan Francisco Girls ChorusSan Francisco Symphony

 

Opera Parallèle offers its popular production of “The Little Prince” for the holidays. (Courtesy Steve DiBartolomeo)