Holiday Shows of the Week: Hot and Cold Christmas Shows 

Choral concerts don’t come much more compelling than the Quire of Voyces, which Nathan Kreitzer founded at SBCC back in 1993 and still enthusiastically leads 30 years later. The a cappella sacred music ensemble has a remarkably crystalline sound cultivated by both Kreitzer’s exacting ear and regular rehearsals. There are but two full weekend programs each year in town, and the Mysteries of Christmas Concert is always quite highly anticipated, not the least of which is that it occurs in the cozy confines and acoustic wonder that is St. Anthony’s Chapel at the Garden Street Academy. 

This year’s program, at 3 pm on December 16-17, showcases new renditions of traditional songs and innovative arrangements of Nativity verses, including compositions by contemporary composers, many of whom are women, who have played a pivotal role in the recent choral composition renaissance: Matthew Culloton, Cecilia McDowall, Becky McLeod, Susan LaBarr, and Quire’s composer in residence Stephen Dombek. The dozen pieces on the program combine to convey a message of peace, love, and joy with shimmering sonorous harmonies, closing with Sargent’s arrangement of “Silent Night.” Visit www.quireofvoyces.org.

For a holiday treat that is as chilly as Quire’s concerts are warm, head out to Girsh Park behind Costco for Ice in Paradise’s annual Holiday Ice Skating Show, where the talented cadre of coaches perform alongside local skaters in a stirring showcase of skills. The rink is turned into a beautiful, wintry setting with festive decorations to create the charming Christmastime scene, and you can take in the action from above from the mezzanine or, for the brave (and warmly-dressed) souls, right down on the ice where you are eye-to-eye with the skaters. Glide out to Goleta for shows at either 12:30 pm or 3:30 pm on December 16. 

If you are more partial to participating, bundle up to get into the action on the ice when Ice in Paradise hosts its annual festive Winter Wonderland public skating sessions December 18-24. The ice rink transforms into a holiday themed snow globe featuring snow, holiday music, lights, and more. The $25 ticket covers all day skating from 9 am – 9 pm (9 am – 4 pm on Christmas Eve) and includes free skate rentals and hot chocolate.

Purchase tickets at the door. For more information, visit www.iceinparadise.org or call (805) 879-1550.