The Roanoke College Choir will celebrate the holiday season with a performance of George Handel’s “Messiah” this month, with guest conductor Steven White of the Metropolitan Opera. White will lead the choir concert on Sunday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. at the Jefferson Center’s Shaftman Performance Hall.

The Roanoke College Choir, orchestra and soloists will perform “Messiah Part I” and the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

Also, students will sing selected Christmas chorales from the cantatas of J.S. Bach, and his Overture No. 3 in D, BWV 1068, including “Air on the G String.”

Tickets are available through the Jefferson Center box office at (540)345-2550, ext. 1, or www.jeffcenter.org.

Check out other December events at Roanoke College by clicking on “Read More”:

Kandinsky Trio Series Concert: Anniversary Cake Concert

Saturday, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m., Olin Theater, $20/$12*

Tickets available at www.roanoke.edu/tickets or by calling (540) 375-2333

Ludwig van Beethoven used the key of C minor to create some of his most dramatic and unmistakably personal statements. His stormy Op. 1, No. 3 Trio in C Minor will be played, along with the third installment of the “25 X 25” project, featuring new works by Hilary Tann, Joseph Blaha and James Miley.

Art Exhibition: Friday, Oct. 26-Sunday, Dec. 2

Olin Gallery: Roanoke College’s Studio Art Faculty

Smoyer Gallery: Gretchen Batcheller, Cole Hartson and Jeanne Stewart

The Roanoke Studio Art Faculty exhibition will showcase work created by Scott Hardwig, Eliz Heil and Katherine Shortridge, all Roanoke faculty members. Hardwig, who came to Roanoke in 1977, teaches ceramics and sculpture. He received his master of fine arts degree from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.

Heil joined Roanoke’s faculty in 1981, and she teaches photography, computer graphics and printmaking. She earned her master of fine arts degree in printmaking and drawing from Northern Illinois University.

Shortridge received her master of fine arts degree from Indiana University, and she has taught painting and drawing at Roanoke since 2003.

The Smoyer Gallery exhibition will highlight works by other Roanoke faculty members, Gretchen Batcheller, Cole Hartson and Jeanne Stewart. Batcheller taught painting and mixed media courses during her 2011-12 visiting professorship in Roanoke’s Fine Arts Department. Hartson has taught graphic design at Roanoke’s Art Department since 2003, while Stewart is the College’s new professor of arts and drafts in schools.

Jazz & Wind Ensembles Joint Concert

Thursday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m., Olin Theater

The Roanoke College Jazz & Wind Ensembles will perform a joint concert under the direction of Dr. Joseph Blaha.

Coffee Shop Talks Series: “The Maya and the End of Time”

Thursday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m., Mill Mountain Coffee, Salem

Dr. James Ogier, Roanoke College professor of German and linguistics, will discuss the Maya and the End of Time as part of the Roanoke College Coffee Shop talk series.

Roanoke College Children’s Choir: “Songs of the Season”

Sunday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Jefferson Center’s Shaftman Performance Hall

$19/$16/$13 ($3 discount for children 12 and under)

Tickets available through the Jefferson Center Box Office at (540) 345-2550, or www.jeffcenter.org.

Let the sounds of well-trained young voices usher in your holiday season. The Roanoke College Children’s Choir, under the direction of Kimberly Ruse Davidson, presents its 26th annual holiday concert. The repertoire will include traditional, classical and lighthearted holiday music. The choir includes 280 children, ages 8-18, who are divided into three training choirs and a concert choir. Brass 5 will be special musical guests.

For more information, call (540) 375-2222 or visit www.childrenschoir.com.

– Submitted by Roanoke College