Community Calendar

The Rockford Symphony Orchestra and Rockford Dance Company come together to present the annual performance of this holiday classic! This enchanting ballet combines professional musicians and professional dancers with students and adult dancers from the Rockford community. Join Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on their magical journey and make The Nutcracker part of your family’s holiday tradition!

The St. Charles Singers, led by founder and music director Jeffrey Hunt, will be joined by virtuoso Chicago guitarist Goran Ivanovic for the mixed-voice chamber choir's 41st annual Candlelight Carols program.

The program, themed “Celebrating A World of Carols,” embraces 16 seasonal songs, most of them new to the St. Charles Singers repertoire, by composers and arrangers from the UK, continental Europe, and the US, including the greater Chicago area.

Audiences will hear seven works for choir and guitar, including world and local premieres.

“Guitar brings a beautifully delicate sound to the program,” choirmaster Hunt says. “It’s spare and elegant, almost like the harp, but exciting in its own way.

“Each year, I’m looking for sparkling new musical Christmas ornaments to surprise and delight our audiences,” Hunt says. “This year, many of these ornaments take the shape of the guitar.”

Croatian-born guitarist Ivanovic has been hailed as an artist whose “stirring style incorporates jazz, traditional Balkan, flamenco and classical styles” (Chicago Sun-Times) and as “a multiculti wunderkind” (New City).

The St. Charles Singers, led by founder and music director Jeffrey Hunt, will be joined by virtuoso Chicago guitarist Goran Ivanovic for the mixed-voice chamber choir's 41st annual Candlelight Carols program.

The program, themed “Celebrating A World of Carols,” embraces 16 seasonal songs, most of them new to the St. Charles Singers repertoire, by composers and arrangers from the UK, continental Europe, and the US, including the greater Chicago area.

Audiences will hear seven works for choir and guitar, including world and local premieres.

“Guitar brings a beautifully delicate sound to the program,” choirmaster Hunt says. “It’s spare and elegant, almost like the harp, but exciting in its own way.

“Each year, I’m looking for sparkling new musical Christmas ornaments to surprise and delight our audiences,” Hunt says. “This year, many of these ornaments take the shape of the guitar.”

Croatian-born guitarist Ivanovic has been hailed as an artist whose “stirring style incorporates jazz, traditional Balkan, flamenco and classical styles” (Chicago Sun-Times) and as “a multiculti wunderkind” (New City).

A beloved annual tradition! Ring in the holiday season with traditional favorites. Local music ensembles will be featured in the lobby before the concerts, during intermission, and following the concerts. This concert is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

ELGIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2025 | 8:00 PM

Tickets start at $63, Members save 30%
(All-in pricing includes $4 Box Office Fee. An $8 Order fee will be applied at checkout to the entire order)
Enjoy Christmas favorites and seasonal music at this annual Yuletide concert at Raue Center For The Arts!

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra returns with conductor and music director Chad Goodman and the Elgin Master Chorale for an unmatched evening of holiday music. ESO brings world-class, big-city entertainment without the hassles of the big city. Celebrate the holidays this year with the Elgin Symphony Holiday Spectacular at Raue Center For The Arts!

Recommended: ALL AGES

This performance is sponsored by Home State Bank.

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Don’t forget to become a RaueNOW Member to save 30%!

*Prices vary according to zone. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

Box Office Fee – A $4 per ticket charge to support the ticketing software.

Order Fee – A $8 per order charge that helps operate and invest back in our historic venue.

Premium Seat Fee – $6 Premium seat fee is based on location/additional leg room and indicated with a light blue color on the seating chart.

Patron Code of Conduct: Be courteous. Inform staff if you feel or observe any harassment. We reserve the right to remove any guest at any time. For more information, please visit rauecenter.org.

Questions? Contact our Box Office at 815-356-9212; boxoffice@rauecenter.org
Raue Center For The Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts.

Classical Blast’s
“Dark Side of the Yule”
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2025 | 7:00 PM

Tickets start at $39, Members save 30%
(All-in pricing includes $4 Box Office Fee. An $8 Order fee will be applied at checkout to the entire order)
Christmas Meets Classic Rock in this unique take on the holidays, combining rock hits from Metallica to Pink Floyd to Moody Blues to Evanesence and more with traditional carols, popular classical, holiday standards and beyond. Classical Blast has created one of the most unusual and enjoyable holiday shows around. It’s eye and ear candy the Sugarplum Fairy herself would be proud of. The show features music from the bands 2 holiday albums, “Dark Side of the Yule” and “Whiter Shade of Winter.”
Recommended: 12+

——
Don’t forget to become a RaueNOW Member to save 30%!

*Prices vary according to zone. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

Box Office Fee – A $4 per ticket charge to support the ticketing software.

Order Fee – A $8 per order charge that helps operate and invest back in our historic venue.

Premium Seat Fee – $6 Premium seat fee is based on location/additional leg room and indicated with a light blue color on the seating chart.

Patron Code of Conduct: Be courteous. Inform staff if you feel or observe any harassment. We reserve the right to remove any guest at any time. For more information, please visit rauecenter.org.

Questions? Contact our Box Office at 815-356-9212; boxoffice@rauecenter.org
Raue Center For The Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts.

Share the joy of the season at this year’s CMS Christmas concerts, “O Radiant Dawn.” Accompanied by strings and piano, the chorus will sing lush pieces that will illuminate even the longest, darkest nights. Familiar carols such as O Holy Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, Bring a Torch Jeannette Isabella, and Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, plus choral favorites and our popular sing-along will provide a magical experience that is sure to get you in the holiday mood. Perfect for families and friends, these concerts are an annual tradition you don’t want to miss. Music Director John C. Hughes conducts.

A beloved annual tradition! Ring in the holiday season with traditional favorites. Local music ensembles will be featured in the lobby before the concerts, during intermission, and following the concerts. This concert is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

An annual tradition, Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Spectacular returns for three performances on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 14, at 2:30 p.m. The program includes favorite carols, new spins on modern favorites, and an appearance by Santa Claus.

Share the joy of the season at this year’s CMS Christmas concerts, “O Radiant Dawn.” Accompanied by strings and piano, the chorus will sing lush pieces that will illuminate even the longest, darkest nights. Familiar carols such as O Holy Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, Bring a Torch Jeannette Isabella, and Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, plus choral favorites and our popular sing-along will provide a magical experience that is sure to get you in the holiday mood. Perfect for families and friends, these concerts are an annual tradition you don’t want to miss. Music Director John C. Hughes conducts.