The San Jose Symphonic Choir celebrates its 100th season with a special performance

The San Jose Symphonic Choir opened its 100th season last month, marking an amazing century in which “ordinary people make extraordinary music,” as the group’s motto proclaims.

After a sold-out performance of Felix Mendelssohn's “Elijah” last month in Campbell and their signature “You-Sing-It Messiah” at the Hammer Theater in San Jose, the choir will perform Dec. 16 at the St . Joseph Cathedral Basilica in downtown San Jose.

As a double treat, the 7:30 p.m. concert will also be a one-night repeat of the Season of Hope, a series of free concerts held at the cathedral for three decades before the COVID-19 pandemic. The San Jose Symphonic Choir partnered with the Silicon Valley Arts Coalition for the event, which will support Catholic Charities.

Artistic director Leroy Kromm said the 100th season is a tribute to generations of singers, conductors and supporters who have walked the path with the organization.

“This 100th anniversary is not only a celebration of our past, but a powerful testament to the strength, passion, dedication and artistry that have carried this choir through the past century,” said Kromm, who took over the San Jose Symphonic Choir in 1985.

The group's roots date back to November 1924, when LeRoy V. Brant organized a choir of more than 150 singers and a 25-piece orchestra from throughout the Santa Clara Valley for a Harvest Musical Festival given to what was then San Jose State Teachers took place college. According to a Mercury News article at the time, they performed the cantata “The Rose Maiden” to a packed hall.

Since that promising start, the choir has performed hundreds of times, including a joint performance in 1991 with a choir from Okayama, the sister city of San Jose, Japan, and in 2012, accompanying Barbara Streisand, in front of 14,000 people at the SAP Center. A small group The choir also goes on a world tour every few years, the last tour this year took them to Austria and Slovenia.

The 100th season continues with Bach's “B Minor Mass” in Cupertino in April, followed by Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in Mountain View in June. For more information about the season, visit www.sanjosesymphonicchoir.org.

LIGHTING: Speaking of St. Joseph Cathedral: This month, too, its exterior is a work of art in itself. Every evening, starting at 5:30 p.m., the historic façade becomes a screen for laser-projected, colorful animated images showcasing the art of Terry Estioko of Estioko Designs.

You may remember that the first time this happened was during the holiday season in 2020 – when Christmas in the Park and Downtown Ice were canceled due to COVID-19 – thanks to a partnership between the late Chris Esparza and the City of San Jose. The tradition now continues, with Annie Hermes of Messenger Events working with the city on the weekly changing exhibition.

AFTER HOURS: It's been a few years since Tech Interactive hosted one of its “Tech at Nite” events, where those over 21 had the opportunity to explore the museum after the kids left. But the fun returns on December 19th at 7:30 p.m., with music curated by Universal Grammar, DIY holiday crafts organized by Local Color, and a “Science of Whiskey” tasting led by the award-winning 10th Street Distillery in San Jose.

Katrina Stevens, CEO of Tech Interactive, said Tech at Nite offers an opportunity to engage with the learning center, but this time as a playground for adults. “We often hear from young adults that they have fond memories of visiting as a child, but have not returned since,” she said. For more information and tickets, visit www.thetech.org/techatnite.

BIRTHDAY PARTY: I'm sure many people celebrate milestone birthdays by seeing a show at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, but not many celebrate with a performance. But that's exactly what Tony Award-nominated composer Andrew Lippa is doing on Monday to celebrate his 60th birthday.

“Lippa at 60” is a benefit for TheaterWorks at the Lucie Stern Theater in Palo Alto, where Lippa will appear on stage alongside several special guests and under the musical direction of TheaterWorks' William Liberatore. Ticket packages – which can include receptions before and after the concert at 7:30 p.m. – start at $75 and go quickly. For more information, visit www.theatreworks.org.

PIANO IN THE PARK: It is said that the three most important rules of real estate are location, location, location — and Christmas's new location in the park's Jingle Bell Stage at the north end of Plaza de Cesar Chavez works great for Fil Maresca, who manages the people who sell Beer and wine at the Park Tavern. He's pretty sure the tent oasis is a nice place for parents or grandparents whose children perform on stage every night.

But it never hurts to add a little extra. On the next two Wednesday nights — that's December 18th and 25th for those on a calendar — Park Tavern will transform into a piano bar, with pianist Lucan Tecson playing Christmas carols from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tecson, who just completed his residency at the Ameswell Hotel in Mountain View, is also scheduled to appear on stage himself on December 21st at 5 p.m.