‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ comes to KC, thanks to jazz orchestra. Plus more holiday music

Kansas City must be on the “nice” list to get such an overflowing stocking stuffed with musical delights. From the music for a beloved television Christmas special and traditional favorites to the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, there’s holiday entertainment for every taste.

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra — ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’

Just listening to the familiar strains that Vince Guaraldi wrote for Linus, Snoopy and Charlie Brown warms me up inside. You’ll have have a chance to get those nostalgic vibes when the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra presents “A Charlie Brown Christmas” Dec. 5 at Helzberg Hall. Popular local vocalist Lee Langston will join the orchestra for this first-ever big band arrangement of Guaraldi’s beloved score. This sounds like a one-of-a-kind show for the whole family.

7 p.m. Dec. 5. Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. $20-$72. kcjo.org.

Bach Aria Soloists

The Bach Aria Soloists always offer a holiday program of gentleness and refinement. This year, violinist and director Elizabeth Suh Lane, keyboardist Elisa Williams Bickers, cellist Hannah Collins and soprano Sarah Tannehill Anderson will be joined by another soprano, Lindsey Lang. Anderson and Lang will sing a selection of Handel duets, and there will also be some Bach and traditional Christmas carols.

7:30 p.m. Dec. 9. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 11 E. 40th St. $20-$40. bachariasoloists.com.

Kansas City Chamber Orchestra

Baroque music just seems to make the holiday season more festive. The Kansas City Chamber Orchestra conducted by Bruce Sorrell will present “A Very Baroque Christmas” Dec. 5 at Old Mission United Methodist Church. The program will feature violinist Anne-Marie Brown and violist Duke Lee in Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 and other appropriately joyful works.

7:30 p.m. Dec. 5. Old Mission United Methodist Church, 5519 State Park Road. $15-$50. 816-960-1324 or kcchamberorchestra.org.

Liberty Symphony Orchestra

You can tell Kansas City loves its classical music. Not only do we have the Kansas City Symphony, but also several superb community orchestras. The Liberty Symphony Orchestra conducted by its music director Langston Hemenway will present “Holidays Around the World” Dec. 9 at Second Baptist Church in Liberty. The concert is free, but you need to reserve tickets.

7:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Second Baptist Church, 300 E. Kansas St., Liberty. Free. libertysymphony.org.

Kansas City Chorale

Charles Bruffy, conductor of the Kansas City Chorale, is as busy as Santa this time of year. He’ll be leading his Grammy-winning choir in three concerts over the coming week: Holiday Pops, Dec. 5 at the 1900 Building, “A Christmas Carol” Dec. 8 at Country Club United Methodist Church and “A Chorale Family Christmas” Dec. 9 at St. Michael the Archangel.

Composed in 2021, Benedict Sheehan’s “A Christmas Carol” is already establishing itself as something of a Christmas choral classic. Combining narration from Dickens’ story with Sheehan’s arrangement of traditional carols and his own music, “A Christmas Carol” hits all the right notes for warm holiday entertainment.

For all three concerts, call 816-444-7150 or go to kcchorale.org.

Holiday Pops: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5. 1900 Building, 1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Mission Woods. $20-$25.

“A Christmas Carol”: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8. Country Club United Methodist Church, 400 W. 57th St. $20-$25. 8

A Chorale Family Christmas: 1 p.m. Dec. 9. St. Michael the Archangel, 14251 Nall Ave., Overland Park. $5-$10.

Midwest Trust Center

For those wanting some non-classical Christmas, how about rockabilly? The Midwest Trust Center presents “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas” Dec. 7 at Yardley Hall. The musical tells the true story of four rock ’n’ roll icons, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, and their holiday homecoming in 1956. Sorry, thte pre-show dinner of grilled filet of beef tenderloin and New York cheesecake is sold out. Unfortunately, Elvis’ favorite sandwich (bacon, peanut butter and banana) is not on the menu.

7:30 p.m. Dec. 7. Yardley Hall, Midwest Trust Center, Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park $12-$65. jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception will resound with glorious Christmas music when it presents “Prelude to Christmas” Dec. 7. The cathedral’s fine schola, lovingly shaped by organist and music director Mario Pearson, will be joined by Opus 76, Keith Stanfield’s standout string quartet. Harpist Erin Wood will add an angelic touch. The program intersperses readings with arrangements of Christmas hymns by composers that include Britten and Handel.

7 p.m. Dec. 7. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 416 W. 12th St. $10. preludetochristmas.com.

Friends of Chamber Music

If you’re a lover of great piano music, you might want to consider buying yourself an early present. The Friends of Chamber Music will present pianists Alessio Bax and Lucille Chung on Dec. 5 at the Folly Theater. Married in real life, they are both critically acclaimed pianists who are much in demand.

You don’t often hear two pianists in concert, especially pianists of this caliber, and yet there is so much great music written for piano duo. Bax and Chung’s heavily French program features some of the finest works for two pianos by Poulenc, Debussy and Ravel, as well as Three Tangos by Piazzolla.

7:30 p.m. Dec. 5. Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St. $34-$44. 816-766-1096 or chambermusic.org.

You can reach Patrick Neas at patrickneas@kcartsbeat.com and follow his Facebook page, KC Arts Beat, at www.facebook.com/kcartsbeat.