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Christopher Dragon, conductor Ross Lekites, vocalist San Diego Master Chorale | John K. Russell, music director San Diego Children's Choir | Ruthie Milgard, artistic director With special appearances by Cat Conner, Loren Smith (Dec 13, Dec 14 7:30 p.m. and Dec 15), Ken Johnson (Dec 14 2 p.m.) and Scott Rad Brown Jonathan Gilmer, director Amanda Zieve, lighting designer Joshua Heming, assistant lighting designer Script by Mabelle Reynoso San Diego Symphony Orchestra Experience the San Diego Symphony's holiday tradition, Noel Noel, inside at the new Jacobs Music Center. Featuring favorite songs including "I'll be Home for Christmas, "Silent Night" and "Slight Ride", the evening will be full of Christmas classics, sing-alongs, holiday cheer and jolly spirit, featuring Mrs. Claus. The concert will be led once again by the artistic tour-de-force team consisting of celebrated guest conductor Christopher Dragon and director Jonathan Gilmer, and it features the return of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, the San Diego Master Chorale and the San Diego Children’s Choir. Visit: https://www.sandiegosymphony.org/performances/noel-noel/ San Diego Symphony on Instagram and Facebook

The Vietnam War came to an end on April 30, 1975, when North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon.

The San Diego Holiday Half Marathon is a fast 13.1 mile course that starts in Rancho Penasquitos and finishes at the beautiful Torrey Pines State Beach. The San Diego Holiday Half Marathon is a fast 13.1 mile course that starts on Penasquitos Drive and Carmel Mountain Road, then travels SW along Carmel Mountain Rd (your only ‘real’ hill at mile 1.5), along the 56 bike path and finishes at the beautiful Torrey Pines State Beach. The race includes a 711-foot net elevation drop along the “rolling” downhill bike path, which also makes it a personal best candidate. Visit: https://www.sandiegoholidayhalf.com/

SD Baroque celebrates the Christmas season with "Golden Light", a program of soulful works from mid-17th century Germany, including vocal and instrumental music by Buxtehude and his contemporaries. Joining us is renowned San Diego-based soprano Anne-Marie Dicce Valenzuela. Visit: https://www.sdbaroque.com/events-one/bachslunch-april5-bb4x2-pcxmn SD Baroque on Instagram and Facebook

Join us on a special holiday tour through each festively decorated room of the oldest House in the historic Gaslamp Quarter! Your guide will share the history of some beloved Christmas traditions and, in true Victorian fashion, a few ghostly tales! December 20th at 5 p.m. Visit: Christmas Candlelit Tour of the Davis-Horton House The Davis-Horton House on Instagram and Facebook

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Viver Brasil, a dynamic dance company celebrated for its powerful, engaging performances. In this special evening, Viver Brasil will celebrate the roots of samba, tracing the Afro-Brazilian origins that have shaped its rhythm and spirit. In electrifying styles like orixá, forró, and bloco afro, Viver Brasil combines dance with live polyrhythmic music and evocative storytelling to bring the essence of samba’s heritage vividly to life. After the performance, Viver Brasil’s artists will answer your questions about their journey, influences, and the deeper stories behind each dance. Expect an evening filled with energy, passion, and cultural insight. About the artist: Founded in 1997 in Los Angeles, Viver Brasil is an acclaimed dance company dedicated to celebrating and sharing Afro-Brazilian culture through dynamic performances blending dance, music, and storytelling. Under the artistic direction of Linda Yudin and Luiz Badaró, the company draws from orixá movement (sacred dances of spirits with roots in West Africa), samba styles, and other African-derived traditions, to create a powerful experience that honors Afro-Brazilian roots while reimagining them for modern audiences. Known for its vibrant, polyrhythmic music and expressive choreography, Viver Brasil brings the spirit of Salvador de Bahia to stages around the world, inspiring connection through tradition and innovation. Visit: Samba Roots: An Afro-Brazilian Journey with Viver Brasil Viver Brasil Dance Company on Instagram

Experience an unforgettable evening with Qais Essar, a pioneering Afghan composer and rabab virtuoso who weaves the traditional sounds of the mountainous Hindu Kush region with contemporary global music. The rabab, an instrument first mentioned in Arabic texts of the tenth century, is a plucked lute considered by many to be Afghanistan’s national instrument and a precursor of the sarod, prominent in North Indian classical music . Qais’s music blends Afghan folk, Americana, and other sources, creating a unique soundscape that feels both timeless and boundary-pushing. Following the performance, join us for a Q&A with Qais, where he will share insights into his creative process, collaborations, and the inspirations behind his music. This close-up experience will offer a rare chance to delve into the mind of an artist dedicated to reimagining Afghan music for the modern world. About the artist: Qais Essar is an acclaimed Afghan composer, rabab player, and producer who bridges the ancient and modern through his music. Known for his innovative blending of Afghan folk with rich, genre-defying sounds from Western roots music, Qais has performed globally, including with the Oxford Philharmonic, and his music has been featured in major motion pictures and festivals. His compositions include original pieces for Oscar-nominated films Three Songs for Benazir and The Breadwinner. The latter earned him a Canadian Screen Award for Best Original Song. Qais brings traditional Afghan music to new, global audiences. Visit: Soundscapes of Afghanistan: Tradition Reimagined with Qais Essar Quais Essar on Instagram and Facebook

A federal judge in Vermont ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student at Columbia University who was arrested at his US citizenship interview and ordered deported.

Join us for a captivating evening with the Pacific Trio, featuring three distinguished masters of traditional Chinese instruments and repertoire—David Liu on zheng (a plucked zither), Celia Liu on pipa (a plucked lute), and Qi-Chao Liu on dizi (a bamboo transverse flute). Together, they bring the rich soundscape of traditional Chinese music to life, blending classical techniques and repertoire with their own unique artistry. From the delicate tones of the zheng to the vibrant melodies of the pipa and the expressive voice of the dizi, the Trio’s performance will provide a glimpse of the beauty and depth of the Chinese musical heritage. Stay after the concert for a Q&A with the artists and explore their musical journeys, instruments, and inspirations up close. About the artists: The Pacific Trio is composed of three Los Angeles-based artists, all among the finest Chinese musicians of their generation living in the United States. David Chu-Yao Liu (zheng) studied under famous zheng masters and graduated from the Taiwan National Academy of the Arts. He has performed all over the world and in 1989 founded the Zheng Hsin Chinese Zither Orchestra of Los Angeles. Celia Liu graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in China and worked at the National Orchestra in Beijing. She won the award for “Most Excellent Performance” at the Art Cup international competition. She was invited to perform with the LA Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded over a hundred soundtracks for movies and TV series with Warner Brothers Nickelodeon “Kung Fu Panda”. Qi-Chao Liu (dizi), musicologist, educator, and bandleader, is an accomplished performer on a wide variety of Chinese instruments. He graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Traditional and Western Music and, in 1997, was invited to attend the Asian Pacific Performance Exchange Fellowship Program through UCLA. Visit: Sounds of Dynasties: Living Traditions of China

San Diegan Allan Hoving is trying to build consensus by launching an online unity-building platform called The Big Middle.