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Jazz, Choral Music & Worldwide Holidays: Your Weekend Is Here!

From a jazz concert to a stirring choral performance to an around-the-world holiday, San Antonio’s weekend is packed with fun. Downtown San Antonio is the place to be, Arts San Antonio's Jason Irle said.

 

"Yeah, it's gonna be rocking," he said.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band is performing will play a spicy blend of holiday songs at the Charline McCombs Empire Theater.

"Christmas songs, along with some of their original music,” Irle said. “We've had rave reviews, and their return has been very much anticipated."

The Empire's layout and size makes for a pretty intimate audience experience.

"Not a bad seat in the house," he said.

Conspirare

Then, on Sunday, at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, Ann McNair said you need to hear the choral group named Conspirare.

"I always love people who've never heard a choir before say, 'wow, I had no idea,' " McNair said.

The 24-person choir will be accompanied by a piano, guitar, and vocalist Carrie Rodriguez, a guest artist who will perform several songs in Spanish, McNair said.

McNair said attending the Conspirare performance will help cut through the holiday clutter.

"This experience is one where you really can just be in the moment," she said.

Institute of Texan Cultures

Also on Sunday is an event the Institute of Texan Cultures' Melanie Schwebke said is worldwide in scale.

"The title is 'Winter Celebrations Around The World.' Students from the (Academic Year in the USA) exchange program coming in to talk about how the holidays are celebrated in their countries," she said.

These foreign exchange students are coming in to share their version of how they celebrate the holidays and where they’re from. But Schwebke says the event isn’t just culture from elsewhere.

"We also have performances by the Children's Ballet of San Antonio. They're going to do some performances of ‘The Nutcracker,’ ” Schwebke said. “And then we have our Lady of the Guadalupe Church Pastorela play."

The second Sundays of each month are free at The Institute of Texan Cultures.

This Sunday’s event is from noon to 4 p.m.

Jack Morgan can be reached at jack@tpr.org

Jack Morgan can be reached at jack@tpr.org and on Twitter at @JackMorganii