Holiday Music

The 45-voice Santa Clarita Master Chorale opens its 2000-2001 season with “Gloria!” concerts this weekend in Valencia. The show, with artistic director Peter Pocock conducting, will feature Glorias by Rachmaninoff and other composers. It will also include Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” and other holiday favorites and seasonal classics to the accompaniment of organ and strings.

* Santa Clarita Master Chorale; Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Valencia United Methodist Church, 25718 McBean Parkway. $12-$17. (661) 254-8886.

Bach Concert

The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Los Angeles Master Chorale will collaborate on Bach’s Mass in B minor Saturday night in Glendale. A chamber choir of 36 singers from the Los Angeles Master Chorale will join the Chamber Orchestra for an intimate performance of Bach’s liturgical work on the 250th anniversary of his death. The soloists will be soprano Janice Chandler, mezzo-soprano Susan Platts, tenor Alan Bennett and baritone Jaco Venter. Jeffrey Kahane, chamber orchestra music director, will conduct.

* Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Los Angeles Master Chorale; Saturday, 8 p.m.; Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. $13-$53. (213) 622-7001, Ext. 215.

Holiday Show

The Alex Theatre will present its second annual holiday show on Sunday in Glendale. This family-oriented program will feature holiday carols, the Glendale High School Chamber Orchestra, the Armenian National Dance Company, a horn quintet from USC and other artists.

* “Christmas at the Alex--a Holiday Show”; Sunday, 3 and 7 p.m.; Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. $14. (800) 233-3123.

Strings Concert

The Armadillo String Quartet will play works by Haydn, Bartok and others Monday evening in La Canada Flintridge. The quartet includes violinists Barry Socher and Steve Scharf, violist Ray Tischer and cellist Armen Ksajikian. Founded in 1980, the quartet has performed all over Southern California as well as at New York’s Carnegie Hall and in Hong Kong. The ensemble was also featured on National Public Radio’s 20th anniversary broadcast and in a recorded tribute to composer Kurt Weill.

* Armadillo String Quartet; Monday, 8 p.m.; Church of the Lighted Window, 1200 Foothill Blvd., La Canada Flintridge. Free. (818) 790-1185.