Concerts

The Magic of Christmas The Young Americans’ theatrical holiday extravaganza with singers, dancers, a tap-dancing reindeer and singing Santas. La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. Thu.-Sun., 8 p.m. $20-$30. (866) 921-2345.

Long Beach Symphony and Magic Circle Mime Company Guest conductor Mark Mandarano presides over “Spirit of the Holidays,” which includes music by Tchaikovsky, Rossini, Leroy Anderson, Bach and others. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach. Sun., 2 p.m. $15-$20. (562) 985-7000.

All Saints’ Choir Advent Procession with carols, conducted by Thomas Foster, with organist Craig Phillips. Music by Palestrina, Poston, Jacques, Howells, Phillips, Gardner and J.S. Bach. All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills. Sun., 4 p.m. Offering. (310) 275-2910.

Ray and Jodi Benson: A Romantic Holiday Two Broadway talents -- Jodi Benson (the voice of “The Little Mermaid”) and her husband Ray -- perform holiday favorites as part of the cabaret series Club Carpenter. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach. Wed.-Thu., 7 p.m. (complimentary buffet at 6 p.m.); ends Dec. 12. $40. (562) 985-7000.

Hanukkah Celebration Stephen Wise Youth Orchestra performs a holiday program; guest narrators include Ed Asner, Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis and Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin. Sun., 4 p.m. $8-$10. Skirball Cultural Center, (310) 440-3500, Ext. 3344.

Pacific Symphony Guest conductor-violinist Jean-Jacques Kantorow leads a program including Mozart’s Overture to “Don Giovanni” and the Violin Concerto No. 4 and Bizet’s Symphony in C. Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Wed.-next Thu., 8 p.m. $19-$59. (714) 755-5799.

USC Holiday Choir Festival Thomas Somerville conducts the Thornton Chamber Choir; Jenelle Westerebeck leads the Thornton Concert Choir and Thornton Madrigal Choir; Seyon Park conducts the Thornton Oriana Choir. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 514 W. Adams Blvd., L.A. Wed., 7:30 p.m. Free. (213) 740-2584.

Santa Clarita Master Chorale “Let It Snow!” features Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” Robert Shaw’s “Many Moods of Christmas” and more holiday favorites. Valencia United Methodist Church, 25718 McBean Parkway, Valencia. Dec. 6, 8 p.m.; Dec. 8, 3:30 p.m. $12-$17. (661) 254-8886.

Home for the Holidays Larry Carlton, Gerald Albright and Jonathan Butler offer a smooth jazz holiday alternative. Cerritos Center, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Dec. 7, 8 p.m. $30-$60. (800) 300-4345.

Smooth Jazz Christmas with Dave Koz, David Benoit, Rick Braun, Brenda Russell & Peter White Long Beach Terrace Theatre, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. Dec. 7, 8 p.m. $35-$75. (562) 436-3661.

Bobby Rodriguez’s Latin Jazz Christmas Cal State Los Angeles, Luckman Fine Arts Complex, 5151 State University Drive, L.A. Dec. 7, 8 p.m. $22.50-$32.50. (323) 343-6600.

Smooth Jazz Christmas with Dave Koz, David Benoit, Rick Braun, Brenda Russell & Peter White McCallum Theater, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. Dec. 8, 7 p.m. $35-$65. (760) 340-2787.

Pasadena Pops Orchestra The Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” will be part of “A Joyful Noise.” Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena. Dec. 8, 3 p.m. $10-$100. (626) 792-7677.

Choral Society of Southern Californa; Debut Orchestra The 25th annual Christmas Celebration, with mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor. Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, 505 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. Dec. 8, 3:30 p.m. $25-$40. (310) 859-7668.

A Christmas Story The Waverly Consort recounts the events of Christmas in song and drama. Cerritos Center, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Dec. 9, 8 p.m. $25-$35. (800) 300-4345.

Windham Hill’s Winter Solstice Will Ackerman, Liz Story and Jenna Mammina perform songs of the season and other material. Cerritos Center, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Dec. 13, 8 p.m. $25-$35. (800) 300-4345.

Michael Feinstein and the Pacific Symphony Pops Richard Kaufman conducts for pianist Feinstein’s “Holiday Romance”. Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Dec. 13-Dec. 14, 8 p.m. $36-$99. (714) 755-5799.

Jesse Colin Young’s Acoustic Christmas The former lead singer of the Youngbloods performs holiday favorites and his greatest hits. Cerritos Center, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Dec. 14, 8 p.m. $25-$35 (800) 300-4345.

Christmas With Dale Kristien and Friends Presented by Musical Theatre West. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach. Dec. 14, 2 & 7:30 p.m. $35. (562) 985-7000.

Heroes for the Holidays Pacific Symphony celebrates Orange County’s finest, including teachers, doctors, firefighters and police with a holiday program for children 4-11 and their parents. Dec. 14, 10 & 11:30 a.m. Orange County Performing Arts Center. $10-$18. 714-740-7878.

Handel’s Messiah Pacific Symphony Orchestra and the Pacific Chorale perform the holiday classic. Dec. 14, 3 p.m. $19-$59. Orange County Performing Arts Center. 714-740-7878.

The Colors of Christmas Oleta Adams, Peabo Bryson, Jon Secada and Jody Watley perform with a live orchestra and guest choir. McCallum Theater, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. Dec. 15, 7 p.m. $65-$100. (760) 340-2787.

Los Angeles Master Chorale “Sounds of the Season,” featuring the first cantata from Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” that includes the “Passion Chorale,” plus other holiday selections including “O Magnum Mysterium” by Morten Lauridsen; “Shepherd Story” by J.A.C. Redford; “The Lamb” by John Tavener; “Hanukkah Blessings” by Ron Jeffers and “12 Days of Christmas” arranged by John Rutter. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. Dec. 15, 7 p.m. $20-$58. (213) 972-7282.

Los Angeles Master Chorale Twenty-second annual “Messiah” sing-along conducted by music director Grant Gershon for the first time. This is the last time the sing-along will be staged at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Participants may buy musical scores at the door for $10 or bring their own. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. Dec. 16, 8 p.m. $15-$35. (213) 972-7282.

Smooth Jazz Christmas with Dave Koz, David Benoit, Rick Braun, Brenda Russell & Peter White Kodak Theatre, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood and Highland Entertainment Complex, Hollywood. Dec. 20, 8 p.m. $35-$75. (213) 480-3232.

The Colors of Christmas Oleta Adams, Peabo Bryson, Jon Secada and Jody Watley perform with a live orchestra and guest choir. Cerritos Center, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Dec. 20-21, 8 p.m.; Dec. 22, 2 p.m. $50-$70. (800) 300-4345.

Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles This year’s holiday show is “Come Home for the Holidays.” A special, abbreviated one-hour family edition of the program will be presented Dec. 21, 2 p.m. Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Dec. 20-Dec. 21, 8 p.m.; Dec. 22, 3 p.m. $15-$45; family show $10-$20. (323) 467-9741.

Angeles Chorale “The Joy of Christmas” featuring Bach’s “Magnificat”; the Mozart arrangement of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah”; the fourth movement of Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3; and a selection of seasonal favorites. Royce Hall, UCLA, 10745 Dickson Plaza, Westwood. Dec. 21, 8 p.m. $15-$35, discounts available. (818) 591-1735.

Mariachi Christmas Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, Reyna de Los Angeles and Ballet Folklorico del Pacifico will perform in a traditional holiday celebration for the entire family. Cerritos Center, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Dec. 23, 8 p.m.; Dec. 24, 2 p.m. $42-$52. (800) 300-4345.

Lula Washington Dance Theatre Kwanzaa Concert Lula Washington Dance Theatre returns for the sixth year in a row with an evening of dance, music and the spoken word, Luckman Fine Arts Complex, 5151 State University Drive Cal State Los Angeles, L.A. Dec. 30, 8 p.m. $22.50-$32.50. (323) 343-6600.