Madrigalia; Cary Ratcliff, artistic director. Our annual celebration of the holiday season with the choral chamber ensemble Madrigalia.

The 20 voices of Madrigalia, directed by Cary Ratcliff, return for the holiday season, bringing a song celebrating Kwanzaa, a jazz setting for Hanukkah, and a Puerto Rican Christmas carol sung as a tango. The music will reflect on the unique winter sun, the quietness of snow, and will close with a delightful carol from Catalonia and an audience sing-along. Flute, oboe, piano, and string bass will accompany the vocalists.

Hochstein’s free lunchtime “brown bag” Live from Hochstein concert series is hosted by WXXI Classical 91.5’s Mona Seghatoleslami and broadcast live on WXXI Classical 91.5/ 90.3 FM. The concert series gives downtown business people, teachers, families, students, and friends an opportunity to enjoy classical music by outstanding musicians, including soloists, duets, and small ensembles. 

Sidney and Barbara Sobel have provided continuous underwriting of the Live from Hochstein Broadcast & Concert Series since 1993. Live from Hochstein is also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
 

Students in Hochstein's Expressive Arts Department program of music, art, and dance therapy will perform in this free holiday showcase. Please note: There are two separate performances of this concert, one at 5 pm and a second at 6 pm.

Hochstein ensembles – including a piano eight-hands group (with four pianos!), flute choir, string trio and quartets, piano trio, Suzuki group class, and guitar and ukulele ensembles – perform a holiday concert in the Prism format.

Performers set up in different parts of the Performance Hall and the performance runs continuously for about an hour with applause held until the very end.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Young singers in Hochstein’s choral program—Hochstein Singers and Youth Singers, directed by Maryellen Giese, and the Hochstein Little Singers, directed by Grace Adams—will be featured in this free afternoon concert, with special guest Mitzie Collins on hammered dulcimer.

The program includes music appropriate to the time of year, including arrangements of seasonal folk songs from Germany, Russia, Africa, and England; Tom Paxton’s “The Marvelous Toy;” selections by Bach and Handel; a Christmas arrangement of Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood;” and “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson, accompanied by African djembe drum.

The concert is free and open to the public. A reception follows the concert.

The Rochester Oratorio Society revives a dramatic choral setting of Handel's oratorio Judas Maccabeus, one of the best stories ever told.

This timeless masterwork, relating the triumph of the Jewish people after decades of oppression, resounds even more poignantly today. A professional orchestra, chorus, and nationally-renowned soloists bring the drama to life. Singing the title role, tenor Boris Van Druff is joined by Brittany Hebel, soprano; Jessica Ann Best, mezzo-soprano, and Eric Kesler, baritone. ROS Artistic Director Eric Townell conducts. 

For tickets and more information, visit https://rossings.org.

The HochStrings Adult Chamber Orchestra, directed by Pia Liptak, performs a program of seasonal music.

The program includes a Christmas concerto by the Italian composer Torelli; gorgeous melodies by the Norwegian composer Grieg; “What a Wonderful World,” as made famous by Louis Armstrong; a traditional English carol; and a little Grinch, as well.

This concert is free and open to the public.

Ring in the New Year with everyone’s favorite part of the season -- music! Ranging from holiday classics to pop tunes and everything in between. The Rochester Gay Men's Chorus will be joined by the Flower City Pride Band and Rochester local Thomas Warfield.

For more information and tickets, visit the RGMC website.

Ring in the New Year with everyone’s favorite part of the season -- music! Ranging from holiday classics to pop tunes and everything in between. The Rochester Gay Men's Chorus will be joined by the Flower City Pride Band and Rochester local Thomas Warfield.

For more information and tickets, visit the RGMC website.

Under the direction of Gregory Kane, the Finger Lakes Concert Band brings together instrumentalists from around the Finger Lakes region to perform a wide variety of exciting music. This special community performance will feature traditional and contemporary holiday classics, including music by Leroy Anderson, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Alfred Reed. There will surely be a little something for everyone!

General admission tickets $5, free for students 18 or under.

A short performance of tap dancing and song featuring Cheryl Johnson's students at Hochstein. All are invited.