Holiday concerts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City areas spread cheer for all to hear

Whether you like your holiday music classical, jazzy, snazzy or nostalgic, Corridor musicians are ready to suit your every taste. Don’t see your group’s concert in the following list? Just add it to the events at hooplanow.com and we’ll help spread the word.

Nov. 20 and 21

Handel’s “Messiah”: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, 1301 Fifth St., Coralville. Orchestra Iowa presents Handel’s epic oratorio, with soloists and Chamber Singers of Iowa City. Tickets: $16 to $56, artsiowa.com/tickets/concerts/handels-messiah/

Nov. 21

Lynne Rothrock’s Christmas Cabaret: 7 p.m., The James Theater, 213 N. Gilbert St., Iowa City. Holiday music from Rothrock and her merry band of musicians runs the gamut from toe-tapping and hand-clapping to nostalgic and sentimental, with just a touch of comedy for some added jingle. Tickets: $30, linktr.ee/thejamestheater (Nov. 19 show at the Opus Concert Cafe in Cedar Rapids is sold out.)

Nov. 27

Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular: 7 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. This new production features some of the greatest holiday songs of all time performed alongside Cirque Musica’s acrobats and aerialists. Tickets: $35.75 to $185 VIP, creventslive.com/events/2021/cirque-musica-holiday-spectacular

Nov. 29

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party: 7:30 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Drawing on a rich catalog of holiday classics and Christmas originals from the band’s two full-length holiday albums, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy brings its world-renowned live show, and fun and quirky take on the holidays, to you. Tickets: $34 to $54, creventslive.com/events/2021/big-bad-voo-doo-daddy

Nov. 30

Coe College: 11 a.m. Christmas Convocation, 7 p.m. Christmas Vespers, Sinclair Auditorium, Coe College, 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Admission: Free; coe.edu/why-coe/events/calendar

Dec. 1

UI Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Concert: 7:30 p.m., Hancher Auditorium, 141 E. Park Rd., Iowa City. The ensemble’s first holiday pops celebration features symphonic holiday tunes, jazzy vocal selections, festive film music, and a collaboration with the Preucil School of Music. Admission: Free; hancher.uiowa.edu/2021-22/UISO-Holiday-Pops

Dec. 2-5

Christmas at Luther: Awake! And Greet the New Morn: 5:45 p.m. Thursday, 6:15 and 9:15 p.m. Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Main Hall, Center for Faith and Life, Luther College, 700 College Dr., Decorah; the Sunday concert also will be livestreamed. This year’s theme, “Awake! And Greet the New Morn,” comes from a hymn by Luther alum Marty Haugen ‘73. It is not only a celebration and anticipation of the birth of Christ, but also a hope to exit the 18-month pandemic slumber and begin to welcome a return to a familiarity of life. Tickets: $35 in-person, $20 livestream, tickets.luther.edu/

Dec. 3

Irish Christmas in America: 8 p.m., CSPS Hall, 1103 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Featuring traditional Irish artists with lively instrumental tunes on fiddle, flute, uilleann pipes and harp, as well as Irish old-style dancing. Tickets: $30 advance, $35 door, cspshall.org/irish-christmas

Handel’s “Messiah” with the Muscatine Civic Chorale: 7:30 p.m., Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, 1301 Fifth St., Coralville. Conductor Ed Kottick brings together an orchestra, professional soloists and the Muscatine Civic Chorale. Tickets: $17, coralvillearts.org/27/Events

Dec. 3-5

Holiday Spectacular: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Join Maestro Tim Hankewich and Orchestra Iowa with special guests Amy Friedl Stoner, Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale, Orchestra Iowa Discovery Chorus and more. Tickets: $18 to $59, creventslive.com/events/2021/holiday-spectacular

RHCR Theatre presents: An Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Cabaret: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Whipple Auditorium, Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids; masks required. RHCR Theatre is back live with its annual Christmas Cabaret. And this year, the performers will be dressing to the nines with ugly Christmas sweaters. Tickets: $20 to $25, rhcrtheatre.com/

Dec. 4

Merry TubaChristmas: 4 p.m., Ballantyne Auditorium, Mansfield Center in Iowa Hall, Kirkwood Community College, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. It’s the 20th annual Great Cedar Rapids Area celebration of low brass holiday artistry. Admission: free; participation and concert details: crtubachristmas.com/

Storm Large: Holiday Ordeal: 7:30 p.m., Hancher Auditorium, 141 E. Park Rd., Iowa City. “Storm” and “large” are not, generally speaking, words you want to hear together in early December. Unless it’s Storm Large, taking on the holidays in her third Hancher performance. An undeniable force of nature, she’ll light up the holidays with a tempest of seasonal favorites. Tickets: $25 to $45 adults, $10 to $40 college students, $10 to $22 youths, hancher.uiowa.edu/2021-22/Storm_Large

Dec. 5

A Very Merry Nashville Christmas: 5 to 11 p.m., The Olympic South Side Theater, 1202 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Meet Nashville singer/songwriters Melissa Bollea Rowe, Brecken Miles, Maggie Baugh, Trey Taylor and Bill DiLuigi performing their favorite original and traditional holiday songs, and the stories behind them. Tickets: $25 to $40, eventbrite.com/

Dec. 9

Straight No Chaser: 7:30 p.m., Hancher Auditorium, 141 E. Park Rd., Iowa City. Unwrap the gift of impeccable a cappella as the men of Straight No Chaser sing not only holiday favorites but their beautifully blended arrangements of popular hits. Tickets: $50 to $70 adults, $40 to $56 college students, $40 to $56 youths, hancher.uiowa.edu/2021-22/Straight_No_Chaser

Dec. 10

Amy Friedl Stoner’s Christmas at the Paramount: 7:30 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Mixing traditional Christmas songs with contemporary holiday favorites, the concert features Amy Friedl Stoner and a six-piece band led by Luke Viertel. Tickets: $38 to $48, creventslive.com/events/2021/amy-friedl-stoners-christmas-at-the-paramount

Josh Turner: Holiday and the Hits Tour: 8 p.m., Riverside Casino Event Center, 3184 Highway 22, Riverside. Multi-platinum-selling recording artist Josh Turner is releasing his first Christmas album, “King Size Manger.” The holiday project features new interpretations of the classics and introduces four originals, three of which he co-wrote. He’ll blend the holiday music with some of his hits. Tickets: $40 to $65, Casino Gift Shop, (877) 677-3456 or riversidecasinoandresort.com/eventcenter.html

Dec. 11

UI Holiday Percussion Pops: 3 p.m., Voxman Music Building, Concert Hall 2101, 93 E. Burlington St., Iowa City; free. Also livestreamed at music.uiowa.edu/about/live-stream-concert-schedule

The Quire of Eastern Iowa: Pride & Joy: A Winter Concert: 7:30 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church, 310 N. Johnson St, Iowa City, also livestreamed; free, reservations, COVID protocols and livestreaming information at aplos.com/aws/events/pride_joy_a_winter_concert

Dec. 11-12

Chorale Midwest: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, First Lutheran Church, 1000 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Seasonal sounds, including the commissioned premiere of “What Is This Fragrance,” by Matthew Culloton. Tickets: $20, $5 students at the door, choralemidwest.org/purchase-tickets/

Dec. 14

Orchestra Iowa: Holiday Brass & Organ: 7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 310 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Featuring the Orchestra Iowa brass section and organist Neal Marple in a concert for the whole family; face masks required. Tickets: $25 adults, $10 students, artsiowa.com/tickets/concerts/brass-and-organ-holiday-concert/

Dec. 15-16

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas: 7 p.m. both days, Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls. This 35th anniversary show will feature the classic Christmas hits from the first Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album, along with multimedia effects in an intimate setting. Davis will direct. Tickets: $40.75 to $90.75 adults; $33.75 to $73.75 youths, gbpac.com/upcoming-events

Dec. 16

SOLD OUT: Christmas with Joe Wetrich: 7 p.m., Stillwater Coffee Co., 1275 N. Center Point Rd., Hiawatha. An evening of holiday music with Joe Wetrich, accompanied by Alex Shields. Free, joewetrichchristmas.eventbrite.com

Dec. 16-18

A Carol Christmas: 7:30 p.m. each day, CSPS Hall, 1103 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Traditional and contemporary Christmas carols and original songs of the season from Montag, a former member of the “Tribute” trio, joined by pianist Cameron Sullenberger, drummer Jeremiah de le Pena, and cellist Matt Butler. Tickets: $27 advance, $34 door, cspshall.org/events

Dec. 17

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas: 8 p.m., Alliant Energy PowerHouse, 370 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. (See description under Dec. 15 and 16.) Tickets: $35 to $73, creventslive.com/events/2020/mannheim-steamroller

Dec. 17-19

Christmas Once More: Celebrating the Sounds of Carpenters: 2 p.m. Friday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Old Creamery Theatre, 39 38th Ave., Amana. This 90-minute holiday tribute was named the Branson Show Awards 2016 Tribute Show of the Year. Highlights include “Close To You,” “Ticket To Ride,” “No Place Like Home,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “Sleigh Ride,” “The Christmas Song” and more. Tickets: $20 to $32.50, oldcreamery.com/shows-and-tickets/2021-road-shows/

Dec. 18

Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale: Voices Singing, Bells Ringing: 7:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church, 1000 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Featuring the chorale on Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” and Daniel Pinkham’s “Christmas Cantata,” along with seasonal favorites performed by Carillonneurs handbell ensemble, and a finale for voices, brass, bells and organ on “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Tickets: $15 advance, $20 door, crchorale.org/voices-singing-bells-ringing.html

Dec. 19

Maddie Poppe’s Acoustic Christmas 2021: 7 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE. This 23-year-old singer/songwriter from Clarksville and the Season 16 winner of “American Idol” is returning to her home state — and expanding her holiday tour across the country. Tickets: $29.50 to $39.50, artsiowa.com/tickets/concerts/maddie-poppe/

Dec. 21

Alisabeth Von Presley: Christmas in the Key of A: 7 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Von Presley is returning with more guests, including artists from Kennedy High School and The Dance Academy of Cedar Rapids. Von Presley also will perform an original Christmas song off her holiday album debuting this year, along with her other originals “Under the Mistletoe'' and “This Christmas.” Tickets: $20, creventslive.com/events/2021/alisabeth-von-presley