Mariah Carey may be the queen of Christmas, but there’s plenty of other music to get you in the holiday spirit. From classics to more contemporary tunes, choirs to mariachis, performances across the city invite San Antonians to celebrate the holly jolly season.
Trinity University
Kick off the 2023 holiday season with the Trinity University Christmas Concert at Laurie Auditorium. Enjoy an evening of music performed by the Trinity Choirs, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and Handbell Ensemble. This free, family-friendly event starts Friday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m.
Holiday Hoopla
Head to nearby New Braunfels for a night at Gruene Hall, Texas’ oldest dance hall, with popular alt-country band the Old 97’s. Doors open at 7 p.m. Dec. 1, and general admission to the Holiday Hoopla is $25.
San Antonio Liederkranz
San Antonio Liederkranz, formed 130 years ago as the Men’s Choir of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, will perform classic Christmas carols in English, German, and Latin on Dec. 3. for Adoration & Celebration at St. Anthony High School. The performance starts at 3 p.m. and tickets are available on the choir’s website and at the door.
Majestic Theatre
A smattering of offerings at the Majestic Theatre includes everything from nostalgic kitsch oddities to some of the world’s finest performers and vocalists. Events include A Marie Osmond Christmas on Dec. 5, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas on Dec. 6 and Sarah Brightman, the world’s best-selling Soprano on Dec. 17. Visit the venue’s website for showtimes and ticket pricing.
Musical Bridges Around the World
On Dec. 10, join Musical Bridges Around the World for Holiday Gifts, part of the Russell Hill Rodgers Musical Evenings at San Fernando Cathedral series. Belgian violin-piano duo Jolente De Maeyer and Nikolaas Kende will perform holiday favorites and works by composers Fritz Kreisler, Franz Schubert and Richard Strauss along with U.S. star tenor Eric Taylor of the Houston Grand Opera. Free tickets are available on the Musical Bridges website.
River City Ringers
Community handbell ensemble the River City Ringers will perform holiday music entirely on fine-tuned handbells at various venues in the San Antonio area this season. Catch them at the San Antonio Central Library Dec. 12, Trinity Baptist Church on Dec. 17, or at another one of their local concerts.
San Antonio Chamber Choir
San Antonio Chamber Choir’s seasonal contribution centers around a stunning yet rarely performed work, “Laud to the Nativity” by Ottorino Respighi, a large-scale Christmas carol with a chamber ensemble of flutes, oboes, English horn, bassoon and piano filled with suggestions of 16th-century madrigals and Monteverdian arioso. This ambitious musical undertaking explores the mystery of nativity and is accompanied by the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio. Performances on Dec. 16 and 17 are both free with RSVP at The Chapel of the Incarnate Word.
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts is presenting an array of holiday concerts including Christmas With the 5 Browns on Dec. 13, DRUMLine Live Holiday Spectacular Dec. 15, Jose Hernandez’s Merry-Achi Christmas Dec. 21, and Doc Watkins’ Charlie Brown Christmas Dec. 22.
Jose Hernandez’s acclaimed Mariachi Sol de Mexico formed in 1981 and has performed all over the world and alongside stars like Vicente Fernandez, Selena, Jose Feliciano and Luis Miguel. The group stops in San Antonio Dec. 21 to perform songs from its Merry-Achi Christmas album.
Pianist and singer Doc Watkins has made his mark on San Antonio as owner and founder of restaurant and performance venue Jazz, TX, as well as co-host of the weekly radio program Live at Jazz, TX. Watkins and his band perform music from A Charlie Brown Christmas on Dec. 22.
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
On Dec. 22 at 7 p.m., the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center will present its 40th Annual Holiday Saxophones Concert, bringing a variety of jazz, R&B and popular standards. George Prado and the Regency Jazz band will lead a line-up of legendary musicians including Al Gomez, MiChelle Garibay-Carey, Joe Posada and Frank Rodarte. Tickets start at $25 and are available on the Guadalupe Center’s website.
