Sounds of the season: Christmas concerts abound at churches, halls, arenas

EDITOR'S NOTE: The time of a concert has been corrected.

Every holiday season the bells, horns, strings and voices of Christmas ring out across Southeast Missouri. Churches, touring groups, college ensembles and more produce a slew of concerts featuring the music of the holiday season. Below, we've compiled a list of many of those concerts. ~ Matt Sanders

Christmas Stories with Jason Gray and Ryan Corn

7 p.m. today

CrossRoads Fellowship Church, Jackson

204-1912, www.jacksoncrossroads.com

Contemporary Christian musicians Jason Gray and Ryan Corn team up for this show, with Gray performing songs from his holiday album.

Southeast Missouri State University jazz bands' holiday concert

7:30 p.m. today

Buckner Brewing Co., Cape Girardeau

651-2398

The university's two student jazz bands, Studio Jazz and the Jazz Lab Band, team up for their annual holiday concert. The ensembles will play jazz versions of holiday standards like "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Let It Snow," "Winter Wonderland" and more.

No tickets are required, but get downtown early for the best parking.

Sounds of the Season

2 p.m. Sunday

Cape Bible Chapel

986-6622, 651-5518

Mike Dumey is master of ceremonies in this concert that honors cancer patients throughout the community. Proceeds go to Southeast Hospital's Patient Experience Fund at the Southeast Cancer Center.

Tickets are a suggested $5 donation per person and can be purchased at the door or by calling the phone numbers listed above.

Heartland Pops 2012 Christmas Show

3 p.m. Sunday

Jackson High School Auditorium

From left, Karen McClendon, Janell Hinkebein, Miriam Ganiel and Helen Tilley rehearse for the 2012 Heartland Pops Christmas Show Monday, Nov. 26, 2012 at Immaculate Conception in Jackson, Mo. (Laura Simon)

579-6128, www.heartlandpops.com

The Pops performs its annual holiday show featuring an 18-voice chorus and a 20-piece band. The Leopold Women's Chorus also performs under the direction of Pam Dumey, and KSIM-KZIM's Faune Riggin is guest narrator. Tickets are $12.50 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 12 years old if purchased in advance.

Joy of Christmas

3 p.m. Sunday

Old St. Vincent's Catholic Church, Cape Girardeau

618-978-2216

The concert is presented by Southeast Missouri State University's Catholic Campus Ministries. Students perform Christmas and Advent songs while the Nativity story is read. Donations will support the local food pantry at the Catholic Campus Ministry's student pilgrimage to Italy.

Jackson High School Percussion Ensemble Christmas Concert

5 p.m. Monday

West Park Mall, in front of J.C. Penney, Cape Girardeau

243-9513

The Jackson High School students who make up the school's percussion ensemble take their act on the road, performing for the holiday shoppers at West Park Mall on Monday. The concert is free.

Joyful Noise

6 p.m. Thursday

Jackson City Park

The city of Jackson hosts a night of caroling in the park with a live nativity, a song performance by Miss Jackson, a reading of the Christmas story by Mayor Barbara Lohr and a performance by a brass ensemble.

LivinTale tribute to Trans-Siberian Orchestra

7 p.m. Dec. 7 to 8

Osage Centre, Cape Girardeau

339-6342

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra isn't touring through Cape Girardeau anymore, but the tribute group LivinTale recreates, on a smaller scale, the band's holiday theatrics in a more intimate setting. Tickets are on sale at the Osage Centre and PMac Music. One dollar from each ticket benefits Toys for Tots.

From Humbug to Hallelujah

7 p.m. Dec. 7, 6 p.m. Dec. 8 to 9

Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School auditorium

335-5531, www.capebethel.org

Bethel Assembly of God Church presents a Broadway-style musical comedy that fuses a cherished Christmas story and the story of the first Christmas, bringing Ebenezer Scrooge to the stage with a twist.

Southeast Missouri State University Percussion Ensemble

10:30 a.m. Dec. 8

Bedell Performance Hall, River Campus, Cape Girardeau

651-2265, www.rivercampusevents.com

A concert geared toward families with young children and that will last about 45 minutes. A $1 donation is suggested for admission for those ages 6 and up, and "play-along" egg shakers will be available for $3 each. During the holiday tunes, slideshows from classic children's books such as "Frosty the Snowman," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Polar Express" will be displayed. Wind instruments, vocalists and dancers will join in other performances of classic Christmas tunes.

Community Christmas Concert

6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 8

Fountain of Life Tabernacle, Jackson

573-760-2777

The church presents its annual Christmas concert. Performances by the Teen Challenge Mid American Choir, Nashville, Tenn., recording artist Ronda Marler and others. Everyone in attendance gets a small Christmas gift. Free admission.

Immaculate Conception Church Music Ministry Christmas Concert

2:15 p.m. Dec. 9

Immaculate Conception Church, Jackson

243-3182, www.icjacksonmo.com

The church's music ministry performs its annual Christmas concert under the direction of Jerry Ganiel in the church sanctuary. The Adult Choir, Choristers and Bells of Joy Ringers will perform. Refreshments served afterward in the church fellowship hall.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church Festival of Carols

3 p.m. Dec. 9

St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Cape Girardeau

The church's Adult Choir, Mission Bells are joined by instrumentalists and soloists for a program of Christmas music. The audience will be invited to participate in singing carols. A reception will follow the concert.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis

7:30 p.m. Dec. 13

Show Me Center, Cape Girardeau

651-5000, www.showmecenter.biz

The mega-popular Christmas group Mannheim Steamroller comes to Cape Girardeau on its holiday season tour, playing the music that has helped it sell million of records worldwide accompanied by multimedia effects. Grammy Award winner Chip Davis will direct and coproduce. The tour is in its 27th year. Tickets range from $39.50 to $59.50.

Cape Girardeau Central High School jazz holiday concert

7 p.m. Dec. 14 to 15

Cape Central High School Commons

573-519-0691, capechoirs@gmail.com

Central's vocal music director Jordan Cox leads student performers in an evening of vocal jazz including standards and Christmas tunes. Cheesecake and hot chocolate or coffee will also be served. Tickets are $12 apiece.

Don't see your concert listed? Email your information to calendar@semissourian.com or submit the event at www.semoevents.com for inclusion in our calendar.