Celebrate the Holidays at the Center for this Arts

The holidays are right around the corner and if you listen closely, you can hear the quiet jingle bells and merriment heading to the Center this season. From family-favorite classics to brand-new traditions in the making, the Center has a wide offering of performances that will leave your heart shining with holiday spirit! 

Never too early to celebrate the season of joy, GRAMMY Award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer is coming to town to spread warmth and light with A Chanticleer Christmas on November 25. Showcasing an inspired and far-ranging repertoire full of new a cappella arrangements of well-known tunes, these 12 expressive voices ranging from soprano to bass harmonically meld for unparalleled beauty and clarity. For a preview of “the world’s reigning male chorus” (The New Yorker) and musicality that is “breathtaking in its accuracy of intonation, purity of blend, variety of color and swagger of style” (The Boston Globe), watch the video below. 

Returning to the Center for the Arts on December 2, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy present A Celtic Family Christmas! The charming duo invites you and your family into their holiday traditions on Cape Breton Island with charming stories of family, farming, food, and plenty of music. “Nothing short of jaw dropping… There are performances here that will raise you up and performances that will leave you misty-eyed” (The Guardian). 

Next, the American Festival Pops Orchestra (AFPO) presents Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season, a cherished tradition and Center for the Arts audience favorite, on December 9. Now in his second season, Artistic Director and Conductor Peter Wilson welcomes old friends and new to the stage for a festive program of musical favorites, including an uplifting audience singalong of beloved carols and a pre-performance discussion with Bryan Kidd, AFPO Chief Arranger and Composer-in-Residence.  

Concluding the holidays for the Center for the Arts’ Great Performances 2023/2024 season is Mariachi Herencia de México on December 10! In A Mariachi Christmas, the trailblazing Latin GRAMMY-nominated group brings the Latin American tradition of Las Posadas to the Center with songs of the season, such as “Feliz Navidad,” “Los Peces en el Río,” “Ave Maria,” and more! Representing a new generation of mariachi artists, this vibrant group of Mexican American musicians propel the art and traditions of mariachi music to new heights. Check out the group’s spirited rendition of the classic holiday song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”: 

It’s never too early to start thinking about the holidays and the memories to be made with loved ones. Visit the Center for the Arts holiday webpage and experience the arts this season!