Top 10 holiday choral concerts in Sonoma County

Grab a cup of hot tea and a scarf. It’s time to take that road before us and sing a chorus or two, whether it’s “Jingle Bells,” “Silver Bells” or the high notes of Handel’s “Hallelujah.” Here are the top 10 choral groups in Sonoma County that are warmed up and ready to set your mood-o-meter for the holidays.

Occidental Choir: Born around a bonfire in 1978, this quirky and eclectic ensemble of 50 singers is celebrating its 40th birthday this year, strolling down memory lane to revisit some of the original songs written by members for their series of five Winter Concerts. Catch them at 8 tonight; 3 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday; and 8 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Occidental Center for the Arts; with a reprise at 3 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Glaser Center in Santa Rosa. Tickets are $10-$15, children under age 12 free. To reserve: occidentalchoir.org

Cantiamo Sonoma: Sonoma County’s own a capella choir will present a candlelit Christmas concert of both familiar and rarely heard classical works for the season at 8 tonight at St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church in Santa Rosa. Tickets are $15-$20, available at Corrick’s in downtown Santa Rosa or by calling 707-539-5377. 90 Mountain View Ave.

Santa Rosa Symphonic Chorus: This ensemble, which is celebrating its 80th year, will pay tribute to the 100th birthday of conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein at 7:30 tonight and 3 p.m. Saturday at the Glaser Center in Santa Rosa. The program includes choral music from “West Side Story” and “Chichester Psalms,” along with other Bernstein favorites. Tickets are $20, available at santarosasymphonicchorus.com or at the Stanroy Music Center. Glaser Center is at 547 Mendocino Ave.

Celtic World Celebration of Youth Music & Dance: Uplift the spirit and celebrate harmony for the world with Celtic, African, Puerto Rican and French Canadian music and dance at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center. Performers include the Bija Children’s Choir, Shiloh Step Irish Dancers, KnightLizard Music’s Uncaged Fiddlers and Play Marimba! Tickets are $10-$15, $5 for kids 17 and younger. To reserve: seb.org. 390 Morris St.

Circa 1600: This chamber choir directed by Robert Worth will present its seventh annual Early Music Christmas, “Let There be Light,” at 8 p.m. Dec. 7 and 8 at Schroeder Hall at Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center. Narrated by soprano Jenni Samuelson, the concert will tell the tale of the Nativity, Epiphany and Candlemas as set by Heinrich Schutz and others. Tickets are $15-$25. To reserve: sonomabach.org.

Sonoma Valley Chorale: The Sonoma Valley Chorale, founded in 1973, will present “The Glow of the Season” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and 3 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sonoma. Under the direction of David Irvine, the 2018 holiday concert presents a range of repertoire, from Bach to Bernstein. Tickets are $20-$25, kids 10 and younger free. To reserve: sonomavalleychorale.org. 16280 La Grama Drive.

Chanticleer: Celebrating its 40th year as an orchestra of voices, this all-male a capella group will present “A Chanticleer Christmas” at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at St. Vincent Church in Petaluma. The program consists of Renaissance works, Spanish carols and traditional carols. Tickets are $30-$75. To reserve: cityboxoffice.com or 415-392-4400. 35 Liberty St.

American Bach Soloists: Based in San Francisco, the American Bach soloists under Jeffrey Thomas returns to the Green Music Center’s Weill Hall at Sonoma State University at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 to perform Handel’s “Messiah.” Tickets” $50-$95. Reservations: gmc.sonoma.edu

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus: This brassy and sassy concert, “Home for the Holidays,” will be held at 5 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Green Music Center’s Weill Hall at Sonoma State University. The concert will benefit Face 2 Face HIV/AIDS services of Sonoma County and include a chorus of 150 men, a brass quintet and the coloratura soprano Marnie Breckenridge. Tickets are $25-$75. To reserve: gmc.sonoma.edu

Redwood Empire Sing-Along Messiah: One of the longest running sing-along Messiahs in the U.S., this annual benefit concert led by Dan Earl will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Sonoma Country Day School’s Jackson Theater. Tickets are $25, with proceeds going to the Santa Rosa Symphony Institute for Music Education. To reserve: srsymphonyleague.org or at Stanroy Music Center.

You can reach Staff Writer Diane Peterson at 707-521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @dianepete56.