The 2021 holiday season offers a panoply of inspiring jazz, classical and dance presentations. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, the Lensic Performing Arts Center and Performance Santa Fe present the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

Directed by pianist Oscar Hernández, this Latin jazz band is the embodiment of authentic New York-style salsa. The 13-piece ensemble offers its holiday show Salsa Navidad, with “salsa-fied” Christmas standards and driving rhythms typical of the genre. At 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9, the New Mexico Jazz Festival and the Lensic present jazz, hip-hop and neo-soul vocalist José James, who performs classic holiday songs from his new album Merry Christmas from José James. The Lensic’s traditional New Year’s Eve program takes place on Friday, Dec. 31, at 1 p.m. The NYE Orchestra and violin soloist Augustin Hadelich perform music of Sibelius, Mozart and Beethoven under the direction of Joe Illick at 1 and 5 p.m. New Mexico Performing Arts Society presents its annual Winter Solstice concerts at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 27, in Santa Fe and at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 28, in Albuquerque. The program opens with Johann Sebastian Bach’s Concerto for Harpsichord, BWV 1057, featuring piano soloist Natasha Stojanovska. The program also features works by Gesualdo, Palestrina and Joseph Schnabel and part IV of J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. At 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10, NMPAS presents international opera star Cecilia Violetta López in recital with pianist Luke Gullickson. Opera News named her one of opera’s “25 Rising Stars.” She has received accolades for her signature role of Violetta in La traviata, which she has performed countless times throughout North America. López made her debut as Violetta with the Pacific Symphony’s 90-minute version of La traviata and is the featured soprano soloist in the world premier of Mi Camino, a virtual project with Opera Cultura. This year marks Performance Santa Fe’s 85th season, and the organization is thrilled to again bring live events to the Lensic.

At 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 30, Performance Santa Fe presents Rhythmic Circus, an internationally renowned, 12-member live music and tap dance ensemble based in Minneapolis. With its humorous, high-energy music and dance routines, Rhythmic Circus is energizing audiences worldwide. After a successful off-Broadway run and multiple national tours, it brings the show Holiday Shuffle to Santa Fe for the first time — great entertainment for the entire family. And at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 7, Performance Santa Fe and the Lensic present the Spanish Harlem Orchestra in its holiday program Salsa Navidad.

Enjoy Christmas favorites in hard-driving salsa style! Santa Fe Desert Chorale is pleased to return to a full, in-person 2021

Winter Festival with a program titled Nochebuena. Concerts take place Dec. 11 through Dec. 22. This year’s program builds on the Desert Chorale’s longstanding commitment to music by Hispanic composers. The rich tapestry of our New Mexico heritage informs this seasonal celebration with new works, as well as beloved carols from Spanish, Hispanic and Anglo traditions. Performances take place in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Please visit the organization’s website for more information: desertchorale.org. Santa Fe Pro Musica’s Baroque Ensemble, nine musicians who perform on historical instruments, presents its annual series of 12 Baroque Christmas concerts in the intimate, festively decorated Loretto Chapel. From Dec. 18 through Dec. 21 and on Dec. 23-24, the music of Handel, Telemann and Vivaldi will ring throughout the chapel. Performances take place at 6 and 8:30 p.m. each evening. At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 29, and Thursday, Dec. 30, the Santa Fe Pro Musica String Orchestra continues its holiday festivities in the St. Francis Auditorium.

This 18-member ensemble, led by violinist Colin Jacobsen, opens the concert with Telemann’s Burlesque de Don Quixote. Pro Musica’s concertmaster, Stephen Redfield, joins Colin Jacobsen for Bach’s beloved Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins. The concert concludes with Vivaldi’s evocative and ever popular The Four Seasons. Join the Santa Fe Symphony for its annual Home for the Holidays event on Monday, Dec. 6, at the Club at Las Campanas. All proceeds from this event support the symphony’s award-winning music education programs. At 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 12, the symphony’s annual Christmas Pops concert features holiday favorites for the entire family, including excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Anderson’s Sleigh Ride and Berlin’s White Christmas.

The Santa Fe Youth Symphony, under the direction of conductor William Waag, joins the symphony for a special side-by-side performance. And at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14, in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, enjoy the angelic voices of the symphony chorus at Carols & Choruses, led by choral director Carmen FlórezMansi.

Sing along to beloved Christmas carols accompanied by the symphony brass and organ. This free annual performance is the symphony’s gift to the community. At 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24, join maestro Guillermo Figueroa, the Santa Fe Symphony and the Santa Fe Opera for A Night at the Opera at the Lensic. Featured are beloved arias, duets, trios and quartets by Mozart, Rossini, Strauss, Bizet, Verdi and Puccini, and a spectacular cast of 2021 Santa Fe Opera apprentice singers.

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An artist for Verne Q. Powell Flutes, Linda Marianiello boasts a 45-year career as a classical flutist, teacher and recording artist. She is also a published author of numerous articles on music and the performing arts. She earned her BA with honors from Yale College and an MA from CUNY Brooklyn College.