Byrd Ensemble English choral music: Britten, Holst, and more. St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave., byrdensemble.com, $20–$30, 8 p.m., Nov. 25

Magical Strings Celtic yuletide music from the extended Boulding family. Eight concerts throughout the Puget Sound region. See magicalstrings.com for exact schedule. $12–$28, Nov. 26–Dec. 23

Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition Dozens of teams compete to benefit the Pike Market Senior Center & Food Bank. Pine Street at Fifth & Sixth Ave., donation, 6 p.m., Dec. 1

Northwest Chorale Lynn Hall directs Messiah. Donation to benefit Northwest Harvest. Epiphany Parish of Seattle, 1805 38th Ave., nwchorale.org, 6:30 p.m., Dec. 2

Colla Voce Seattle “Angels & Shepherds” is this 16-voice choir’s Christmas concert. St. Catherine of Siena Church, 814 N.E. 85th St.; collavoceseattle.org; $20; 7:30 p.m. Sat., 3 p.m. Sunday; Dec. 2-3

Holiday Pops Extravaganza Federal Way Symphony performs with “Wantz.” The Performing Arts & Events Center, Federal Way. Saturday at 7:30, p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Dec. 2-3

Bach’s Christmas Oratorio The Kirkland Choral Society and Kirkland Chamber Singers perform with Philharmonia Northwest. Bastyr University Chapel, 14500 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore; kirklandchoralsociety.org; $20–$25; 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 3 p.m. Sun.; Dec. 2-3

Northwest Chamber Chorus “Mother and Child” includes music inspired by a certain Mary and her son. Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, 7500 Greenwood Ave. N., northwestchamberchorus.org, $20–$25, 3 p.m., Dec. 3 & 10

Choral Arts Northwest Robert Bode conducts, with classical guitarist Bob McCaffery-Lent. Plymouth Congregational Church, 1217 Sixth Ave., choralartsnw.org, $24–$28, 8 p.m., Dec. 8

Sammamish Symphony Orchestra They will perform their traditional pops concert in Sammamish (Dec. 3) and Bellevue (Dec. 8). Go to sammamishsymphony.com for more details on each performance.

Seattle Symphony Holiday Pops Stuart Chafetz conduct with the University of Washington Chorale joining in. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., seattlesymphony.org. $36–$96; 8 p.m. Fri. & Sat., 2 p.m. Sun.; Dec. 8-10

Cantaré Vocal Ensemble Carols old and new in “All My Heart This Night Rejoices.” St. Catherine of Siena Church, 814 NE 85th St., 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat.; Holy Rosary Church, 4139 42nd Ave. S.W., 2 p.m. Sun., $20–$25. Dec. 8-10

Medieval Women’s Choir Christmas music from centuries long past. St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave., medievalwomenschoir.org, $15–$30, 8 p.m., Dec. 9

Bellevue Chamber Chorus Latvian composer Eriks Ešenvalds adds tuned water glasses to the choir. St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 3030 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue; bellevuechamberchorus.org; $10–$20; 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 3 p.m. Sun.; Dec. 9-10

Seattle Pro Musica “Winter Rose” celebrates the hope symbolized by this unseasonal bloom. $12–$38. Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave.; 3 & 7:30 p.m. Sat.; Dec. 9. Chapel at Bastyr University, 14500 Juanita Dr. NE; Kenmore, 3 & 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 16

Seattle Choral Company “Buon Natale: An Italian Christmas” will explore centuries of musical contributions made by Italians and Italian-Americans, from Palestrina through Rossini to Menotti. St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1245 Tenth Ave. E., $5–$25, 8 p.m., Dec. 9

Seattle Men’s Chorus “A Sassy Brassy Holiday” is their annual extravaganza. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St. $25–$85. Six performances Dec. 10–23; also in Tacoma Dec. 9 and Everett Dec. 16; see seattlechoruses.org for exact schedule.

Northwest Boychoir Their 39th annual “A Festival of Lessons & Carols,” patterned after the Christmas Eve observance at King’s College in Cambridge, England. Eight performances; prices vary by venue; see nwchoirs.org for exact schedule. Dec. 9–22

Jose Gonzales Trio Playing Vince Guaraldi’s peerlessly evocative score for A Charlie Brown Christmas in its entirety. Cornish Playhouse, Seattle Center, strawshop.org, 1 p.m. (for families, $15–$24) & 6 p.m. (for adults, with cocktails, $27–$75), Dec. 10

Christmas Caroling at the Historic Train Depot City of Issaquah Arts Commissioner Fred Hopkins will lead the chorus in all your favorite carols. Issaquah Depot Museum, 78 First Ave. NE, Issaquah, 6-7 p.m., Dec. 14

Cappella Romana “A Byzantine Christmas: The Sun of Justice” includes ancient chants in Greek, Arabic, and English. St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2100 Boyer Ave. E., cappellaromana.org, $25–$50, 8 p.m., Dec. 15

Seattle Symphony Ruth Reinhardt conducts Messiah. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., $24–$89, 8 p.m. Fri., 1 & 8 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun, Dec. 15-17

Seattle Girls Choir Accompanied by harp, they should be a sonic delight. Holy Rosary Church, 4139 42nd Ave. SW, 8 p.m. Fri., Dec. 15; Chapel of Saint Ignatius, Seattle University campus, 901 12th Ave., 7:30 p.m. Sun., Dec. 17, $15, seattlegirlschoir.org

City Cantabile Choir “A Celtic Christmas” features music from Ireland and Scotland (with pipes, fiddle, and step dancers), and also Spain. Green Lake United Methodist Church, 6415 First Ave. NE, citycantabilechoir.org, $20–$25, 7:30 p.m. Sat., 3 p.m. Sun, Dec. 16-17

Orchestra Seattle/Seattle Chamber Singers Clinton Smith conducts Messiah, a four-decade tradition for the group. First Free Methodist Church, 3200 Third Ave. W., osscs.org, $10–$25, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 16

Opus 7 Choral music by Brahms, Poulenc, and a selection of Northwest composers. St. James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave., opus7.org, $20–$24, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 17

Messiah Sing-and-Play-Along A Seattle holiday tradition since 1971. Karen P. Thomas conducts the entire oratorio, and the choir will also sing the solos. University Unitarian Church, 6556 35th Ave. NE, $13–$18, 7 p.m., Dec. 26