• Friday, December 5, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. AND
    Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of The United Lutheran Seminary, 61 Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg, under the direction of John McKay, The Gettysburg Choral Society will present a pair of Christmas concerts entitled “In dulci jubilo” (“In sweet rejoicing”) performing timeless Christmas favorites such as “Carol of the Bells,” “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and more. Featuring soprano Amanda Peters, the program will also include several recitatives, as well as choruses from Handel’s “Messiah.”

    Joining the chorus’ regular accompanist Erin Petrella, guest organist Peggy Haas Howell will perform several organ classics based on “In dulci jubilo” and accompany several chorus numbers. Ms. Howell has performed throughout Europe and the United States and is well known in Gettysburg. She is the National Vice President and Councillor for Competitions and New Music with the American Guild of Organists. Additionally, she is the organist and choirmaster at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lynchburg, Virginia and director of Cantate, a community choir for children and youth. Her lengthy career as a recording artist, recitalist, teacher and church musician was best summed up by Cleveland’s The Plain Dealer when it aptly described her as a “play-anything virtuoso.” She is sure to inspire all with her technical wizardry on the chapel’s magnificent Andover pipe organ.

    As always, the performances will conclude with the audience joining in a joyous sing-along, accompanied by organ and chorus as the sounds of Christmas reverberate throughout the chapel.

    The Gettysburg Choral Society, Inc. is a nonprofit 501©(3) organization composed of auditioned singers who utilize their talents to pursue excellence in choral music performance. The concerts are free and no tickets are required. Tax-deductible contributions are appreciated to help defray concert-related expenses. An offering will be collected. Additional information is available at gettysburgchoralsociety.org

  • Friday, December 5, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. Mt Zion Lutheran Church, 2164 Mt Zion Road, York presents The Hershey Handbell Ensemble in concert. Free with a free-will offering.

  • Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. First UMC, 64 West Chocolate Avenue, Hershey presents The Hershey Handbell Ensemble in concert. Free with a free-will offering.

  • Friday, December 12, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 140 North Beaver Street
    York presents The Hershey Handbell Ensemble in concert. Free with a free-will offering.

  • Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. St Bartholomew's United Church - ELCA, ​1204 Grand Valley Road, Hanover presents The Hershey Handbell Ensemble in concert. Free with a free-will offering.

  • Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. Grace Lutheran Church, ​517 North Queen Street, Lancaster presents The Hershey Handbell Ensemble in concert. Free with a free-will offering.

  • December 14, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. Derry Presbyterian Church 248 East Derry Road, Hershey, 2025 Arts Alive Cultural Series presents “Born in Bethlehem,” Derry’s annual Christmas concert featuring the Sanctuary Choir and Derry Ringers. Guest artists include Randall Zwally on guitar; Amy Yovanovich, mezzo-soprano; Loren Geeting, tenor; and Rebecca Voler, soprano, with accompaniment by orchestra, percussion, organ, and piano. Program highlights include Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory’s moving “Go Where I Send...

  • Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. Market Square Presbyterian Church, 20 S. Second St., Harrisburg. Arts on the Square presents the highly regarded Sanctuary Choir of Market Square Church in Carols by Candlelight, joining with orchestra and organ, under the direction of Tyler A. Canonico-Dilley, to welcome the Christmas season with audience carols and candle lighting, a Harrisburg tradition. Suggested donation of $15 to support Arts on the Square programming includes complimentary parking in the adjacent Market Square Garage. artsonthesquare.net.

  • Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. Pine Street Presbyterian Church 310 N. Third St, Harrisburg presents A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, a beloved MAPS tradition. This uplifting service of scripture and song traces the sacred journey from ancient prophecy to the joyous celebration of Christ’s birth. Featuring readers of all ages, the program weaves together timeless texts and stirring music in the majestic sanctuary of Pine Street. The Pine Street Chancel Choir, under the direction of Joseph Garrison, is joined by guest organist Matthew McMahan, a brass quintet, and percussion for a moving and memorable evening of worship and wonder. A gala reception follows the service.

  • Sunday, December 14 at 4:00 p.m. First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 21 South Bedford Street, Carlisle presents A Service of Lessons and Carols. This candlelight service is based on the traditional King's College, Cambridge Nine Lessons and Carols Service featuring Advent and Christmas hymns and carols for congregational singing along with selections from our Chancel Choir. Free and open to the public.

  • Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. First UMC, 64 West Chocolate Avenue, Hershey presents violist Will Curry with friends in recital. This Hershey native now a successful musician in New York City returns to Hershey to share his musical gifts. Free with a free-will offering at the door.

  • Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Pine Street Presbyterian Church 310 N. Third St, Harrisburg presents Talon Smith, a 23-year-old award-winning pianist and composer whose emotionally rich, technically dazzling performances have captivated audiences across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and he is a winner of over 40 top-competition prizes. Gramophone recently praised Talon as a “master pianist with an old soul.” Talon is one of today’s most compelling young virtuosos.
    A reception follows the concert.

  • Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral, 221 N Front St in Harrisburg. Music By the River presents string ensemble Duo Terlano in concert. The award-winning teaching and performing team of Johannes Dietrich, violin, and Marie-Aline Cadieux, cello, has established a reputation for dynamic and exciting performances and educational workshops. As well as standards from the duo repertoire, their programs include rediscovered gems from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods. Visit www.musicbytheriver.org for tickets and information.

  • Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Market Square Presbyterian Church, 20 S. Second St., Harrisburg. Arts on the Square presents the Howard University Gospel Choir, founded in the fall of 1968, the first collegiate choir of its kind in the world. For almost five decades, the choir has been a premier ensemble, performing gospel music in a wide variety of venues in and around the Washington, D.C. area, and across the country. Tickets: $30 Preferred Seating; $25 General Seating; $15 Student (ID required); $10 Children 10 and under. Available in advance at https://aots-howard-gospel-choir.eventbrite.com or at the door. Complimentary parking in the adjacent Market Square Garage. artsonthesquare.net.

  • Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 3 p.m. St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral, 221 N Front St in Harrisburg. Music By the River presents Third Stream in an exciting afternoon concert of jazz music. Consisting of John Peifer on drums, Jim Miller on bass, Tom Strohman on woodwinds & keyboard, and Greg Strohman on trombone & keyboard, Third Stream has been bringing a quality jazz experience to Central Pennsylvania since 1974. The group aims to present the creative, improvised music of jazz in an exciting form of entertainment fit for all audiences. Visit www.musicbytheriver.org for tickets and information.

  • Friday, March 20, 2026, at Market Square Presbyterian Church, 20 S. Second St., Harrisburg. Arts on the Square presents Amoroso da Capo, the father and son duo of Richard Amoroso Sr. and Jr. have delighted listeners since 1989 with their violin and cello arrangements of sacred, classical, disco, and pop music. They have performed in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and have a long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Suggested donation of $15 to support Arts on the Square programming includes complimentary parking in the adjacent Market Square Garage. artsonthesquare.net.

  • Saturday, Mar 21, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Derry Presbyterian Church 248 East Derry Road, Hershey, 2025 Arts Alive Cultural Series presents The Crossing, a Grammy-award winning chamber choir directed by Donald Nally and dedicated to new music.

  • Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. First UMC, 64 West Chocolate Avenue, Hershey presents The Historic Harpsichord: Beauty for Ear and Eye. This informative talk and recital with harpsichordist Barry Lockard will trace the invention and evolution of the instrument. He will be joined by vocalist friends Ken Bateman, Tenor; Gabriel Padro, Tenor; and Dan Micsion, Bass. Free with a free-will offering. 

  • Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Pine Street Presbyterian Church 310 N. Third St, Harrisburg presents Soprano Juliette TacchinoGlessner and Pianist Grant Loehnig in concert.
    Juliette Tacchino-Glessner is rapidly gaining international acclaim for her radiant voice and compelling stage presence. A winner of the Special Jury Prize at both the 2024 Sumi Jo International Singing Competition and the French Riviera Masters Competition.
    Grant Loehnig, pianist and vocal coach, is a sought-after collaborator, working with some of today’s leading vocal artists, including John Holiday, Susanne Mentzer, and Will Liverman. He serves as the Head of Music Staff at Opera Philadelphia and is a member of the faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music.
    A gala reception follows the concert.

  • Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. - Miller Chapel, Lebanon Valley College, Annville Senior Organ Recital of Ethan Draper.

  • Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Market Square Presbyterian Church, 20 S. Second St., Harrisburg. Arts on the Square presents Lynne Davis, concert organist. American by birth, Lynne Davis’ career has been steeped in French music, culture, and style. A leading international concert artist and master teacher, she has performed in almost every cathedral in France, major cities throughout Europe, and from coast to coast in the United States. Co-sponsored with the Harrisburg Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

  • Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 7 p.m. St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral, 221 N Front St in Harrisburg. Music By the River presents the Cedar Cliff High School Chamber Singers, an elite ensemble featuring 32 of the West Shore’s finest student vocalists, in concert. For the 8th time in the group’s history, the Chamber Singers have been selected as one of only four choirs across the state to perform at this year’s Pennsylvania State Music Educators Conference. The ensemble, under the direction of St. Stephen’s own Matthew Topping, will perform their final “Farewell Concert” before traveling to the conference. For further information, visit www.musicbytheriver.org .

  • Friday, April 24, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. Trinity Church, 415 Bridge Street, New Cumberland presents Hershey Handbell Ensemble. Formed in 2004, this 15-member ensemble performs under the direction of Dr. Shawn Gingrich. Free with an offering.

  • Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Lancaster Church of the Brethren, ​1601 Sunset Avenue, Lancaster, presents Hershey Handbell Ensemble. Formed in 2004, this 15-member ensemble performs under the direction of Dr. Shawn Gingrich. Free with an offering.

  • Sunday, April 26, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. Derry Presbyterian Church 248 East Derry Road, Hershey, 2025 Arts Alive Cultural Series presents Hershey Handbell Ensemble. Formed in 2004, this 15-member ensemble performs under the direction of Dr. Shawn Gingrich. Free with an offering.

  • Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Market Square Presbyterian Church, 20 S. Second St., Harrisburg. Arts on the Square presents the Market Square Sanctuary Choir and soloists present Requiem, Op. 9 (1947) by Maurice Duruflé and Messe Solennelle in C-sharp minor, Op. 16 (1899) by Louis Vierne, accompanied by internationally-known concert organist Isabelle Demers and organ scholar Ethan J. Draper. Suggested donation of $15 to support Arts on the Square programming includes complimentary parking in the adjacent Market Square Garage. artsonthesquare.net.

  • Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Pine Street Presbyterian Church 310 N. Third St, Harrisburg presents Junwen Liang, a Chinese-born pianist hailed for his expressive artistry and dazzling technique, who has emerged as a rising force on the international concert stage. A prizewinner of numerous international competitions and a featured soloist at venues from Carnegie Hall to the Kimmel Center. Junwen currently teaches at the University of Pennsylvania and is represented worldwide by Price Attractions.
    A reception follows the concert.

  • Sunday, May 10, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. Derry Presbyterian Church 248 East Derry Road, Hershey, 2025 Arts Alive Cultural Series presents Tromba Mundi featuring six exceptional trumpet players who perform new works for trumpet ensemble.

  • Friday, May 29, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. First UMC, 64 West Chocolate Avenue, Hershey presents organist Jacob Gruss in recital. Free with a free-will offering.

  • Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral, 221 N Front St in Harrisburg. Music By the River presents barbershop sensation, Parkside Harmony. Founded in Hershey, Pennsylvania, this dynamic a cappella ensemble specializes in the rebirth of familiar tunes with an added, polyphonic twist! The group has opened for GRAMMY award-winning Pentatonix, performed in Carnegie Hall, and medaled in numerous Barbershop Harmony Society competitions. The 30+ members bring a fun energy as they entertain and fulfill their mission of ‘Keep the Whole World Singing!’ Visit www.musicbytheriver.org for tickets and information.

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