![\"Central](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/094620e\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/321x250+0+0\/resize\/880x685!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F69%2Fd6%2F9a5b7b5d4257a6a7d3e55657b69b%2Fthumbnail-8926-cropped-central-moravian-church-campus-at-christmas-note-card-copy.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014 Celebrate the sounds of the season.<\/p>\n
With student ensembles, beloved community choirs and more, the Lehigh Valley will offer a variety of concerts that capture the spirit of Christmastime.<\/p>\n
Here are a few to enjoy:<\/p>\n
Central Moravian Church<\/p>\n
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Contributed <\/p>\n
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Central Moravian Church <\/p>\n
Central Moravian Church’s free Christmas concert will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6. <\/p>\n
When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; doors open at 1 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where:\u00a040 W. Church St., Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
Admission: The performance is free.<\/p>\n
Central Moravian Church will hold its annual Advent and Christmas Concert featuring choral and instrumental music held inside the church sanctuary, which is recognized globally as part of the World Heritage\u2013listed Moravian Church Settlements<\/p>\n
\u201cCentral Moravian Church is happy to share this festive and reflective concert with our Lehigh Valley neighbors and visitors to Bethlehem,\u201d Minister of Music Becky Lepore said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a time to relax and enjoy carols and fellowship as we prepare for the busy Christmas season.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program will feature Lepore performing \u201cDance of the Sugar Plum Fairy\u201d and \u201cSkater\u2019s Waltz\u201d on Central Moravian\u2019s M\u00f6ller Opus 8650 organ \u2014 an instrument boasting four manuals, 109 ranks and 3,057 pipes.<\/p>\n
The church choir also will offer works including \u201cMorning Star in Darkest Night\u201d by Dutch Moravian composer Georg Friedrich von Hellstr\u00f6m, who served for four decades in Christiansfeld, Denmark \u2014 another Moravian World Heritage site. <\/p>\n
Additional selections will include \u201cFestival Nowell\u201d by contemporary American composer Dan Forrest and \u201cThere Shall a Star\u201d from Felix Mendelssohn\u2019s unfinished oratorio “Christus,” a beloved piece performed at nearly every Christmas Eve Vigil at Central Moravian since 1891.<\/p>\n
Mainstreet Brass, the church\u2019s ensemble-in-residence, will present two sets of carols, and the audience will be invited to join in singing favorite seasonal hymns. <\/p>\n
The program will conclude with cherished Moravian traditions, including the final verse of \u201cJesus Call Thou Me\u201d \u2014 sung on Christmas Eve in 1741 when Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf named the community Bethlehem \u2014 and the hymn \u201cMorning Star,\u201d a perennial favorite.<\/p>\n
Muhlenberg’s Advent Candlelight<\/p>\n
When:\u00a07:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 (The evening service also will be livestreamed.)<\/p>\n
Admission: Free, but registration suggested at the Muhlenberg website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Where: Egner Memorial Chapel, 2400 Chew St., Allentown<\/p>\n Muhlenberg College’s 67th Advent Candlelight Carol services, presented by Egner Memorial Chapel and the college’s music department, will include adaptations from the Festival of Lessons and Carols of King’s College, Cambridge University.<\/p>\n The concerts will celebrate the spirit of the Advent season with music and scripture, and will feature solo performances by student musicians, both vocalists and instrumentalists, curated by faculty from the music department.<\/p>\n Seasonal cheer at Charter Arts<\/p>\n When: 7 p.m. Monday, Dec 15.<\/p>\n Admission: $14 adults, $8 students\/children<\/p>\n Where: In the school’s theater at 321 E. Third St., Bethlehem.<\/p>\n The Charter Arts Vocal Music Department’s winter choral concert will feature traditional holiday songs performed by nearly 200 student musicians from three of the school’s choirs.<\/p>\n ‘Crowded Table’ with Lehigh Valley Chorale<\/p>\n Micaela Hood <\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n Lehigh Valley Chorale is gearing up for its winter concert. <\/p>\n When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. <\/p>\n Admission:\u00a0Tickets, starting at $18 are available at the chorale website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Where: First Presbyterian Church 3231 W. Tilghman St., Allentown.<\/p>\n The Lehigh Valley Chorale, founded in 2016,<\/a> will hold its “A Crowded Table” concerts, with a setlist of holiday favorites by Rosephayne Powell, Franz Biebl, Celine Dion and Sara Bareilles. <\/p>\n The chorale will be joined by musicians and student instrumentalists, plus Interim Assistant Conductor Liz Olson, and the inaugural Maks Johnson Memorial Fellow Rachel McIntosh. <\/p>\n This year, the chorale has partnered with New Bethany Choice Food Pantry in Bethlehem for a food drive at the winter concerts.<\/p>\n Holiday Pops! with the Symphony<\/p>\n When: 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21<\/p>\n Admission: $25-$74, at Miller Symphony Hall website.<\/a><\/p>\n Where: Miller Symphony Hall, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown<\/p>\n Allentown Symphony’s annual “Holiday Pops” concert will feature Christmas classics, sing-along opportunities and a visit from Santa Claus.<\/p>\n Led by conductor Diane Wittry and vocalist Alli Mauzey, this year’s performance will have guest stars including Camille Zamora on vocals, student performances by El Sistema Lehigh Valley Choir, Emmaus High School Chorale, the choir of Mediator and dance performances by the Accent School of Dance. <\/p>\n ‘Christmastime in Leipzig’ with Bach Choir<\/p>\n The Bach Choir’s annual Bach Festival will take place May 8 – 11 in Bethlehem. <\/p>\n When: 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec 13.<\/p>\n Where: Egner Chapel, Muhlenberg College, 2400 W. Chew St., Allentown,<\/p>\n Also, 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 14 at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Church St., Bethlehem.<\/p>\n Tickets: $9-$45, also available to stream for $25; information at the Bach choir website<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Bach Choir’s annual “Christmastime in Leipzig” will transport audiences through the arc of Advent and the arrival of Christmas, with sounds originally performed in the historic churches of Bach\u2019s own city.<\/p>\n The program will begin with two of Bach\u2019s stunning Advent cantatas: “BWV 62, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (Saviour of the Nations, Come!)” and “BWV 147, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (Heart and soul, life and deeds),” which includes “Jesu, Joy of Man\u2019s Desiring.”\u00a0<\/p>\n The choir also will perform Bach\u2019s Christmas cantata “BWV 110, Unser Mund sei voll Lachens\u00a0(May our Mouths Be Filled with Laughter),” written 300 years ago. <\/p>\n The Christmas concert also will feature the premiere of a new carol by Dr. Larry Lipkis. <\/p>\n Celtic concert<\/p>\n When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14.<\/p>\n Tickets:\u00a0\u00a0$20 for non-members, $15 for members at 610-737-3000 or gwhs1958@gmail.com. Reservations are recommended; seating is limited.<\/p>\n Where: 6600 Jacksonville Road, Bath<\/p>\n You can warm up at the Gov. Wolf Historical Society’s holiday event, which will feature classic Celtic Christmas songs provided by local group Piper’s Request.<\/p>\n The band will perform a mix of Celtic and seasonal songs. There will be a dessert buffet and light refreshments served.<\/p>\n 26 years of Touchstone’s Follies<\/p>\n Courtesy <\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n Touchstone Theatre <\/p>\n Touchstone Theatre\u2019s Christmas City Follies is celebrating its 24th year. <\/p>\n When: Thursday, Dec. 4-Sunday, Dec. 21 <\/p>\n Tickets: $35 for adults, $25 students and seniors and pay-what-you-will on Thursdays<\/p>\n Where: Touchstone Theatre, 321 E. 4th St., Bethlehem<\/p>\n Touchstone Theatre will celebrate its 26th annual production of Christmas City Follies, a beloved Christmas City tradition. <\/p>\n Each show will feature original comedy sketches written by Touchstone\u2019s ensemble of writers, performers and designers \u2014 complete with a few surprise favorites from past years.<\/p>\n![\"IMG_8151.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/b22ce9d\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4032x3024+0+0\/resize\/880x660!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F8c%2Fa7%2Faaf5d41349f4afa0d0d74ef4ca6a%2Fimg-8151.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Bach](\"https:\/\/static.lehigh-v.lehigh-valley.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud\/dims4\/default\/4f36049\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1637x921+0+0\/resize\/880x495!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flehigh-valley-brightspot.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2F21%2Fcb%2F584b54094de2a8724012bda959c2%2F7a5a1e7426d154841ee254c2-16x9-1.png\")
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