San Jose Symphonic Choir celebrating 100th season with special performance

The San Jose Symphonic Choir has launched its 100th season in the past month, marking an amazing century of “ordinary people making extraordinary music,” as the group’s motto proclaims.

Following a sold-out performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” last month in Campbell and their signature “You-Sing-It Messiah” at the Hammer Theatre in San Jose, the choir will give a special free performance on 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 return 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 has partnered with the Silicon Valley Arts Coalition on 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’ve taken the journey with the organization.

“This 100th anniversary is not just 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 San Jose Symphonic Choir in 1985.

The group’s roots go back to November 1924 when LeRoy V. Brant organized a choir of more than 150 singers accompanied by a 25-piece orchestra from around the Santa Clara Valley for a Harvest Musical Festival held at what was then known as San Jose State Teachers College. According to a Mercury News article at the time, they performed the cantata, “The Rose Maiden,” before a packed auditorium.

Since that auspicious start, the choir has performed hundreds of times, including a joint performance in 1991 with a chorus from San Jose’s sister city, Okayama, Japan, and accompanying Barbara Streisand in front of 14,000 people at SAP Center in 2012. A small group of the choir also has gone on tour around the world every few years, with the most recent tour this year taking them to Austria and Slovenia.

The 100th season will continue in April with Bach’s “B-Minor Mass” in Cupertino, followed by Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Mountain View in June. Go to www.sanjosesymphonicchoir.org for more information on the season.

ILLUMINATING: Speaking of St. Joseph Cathedral Basilica, its exterior is again an artwork of its own this month. Each night, starting at 5:30 p.m., the historic facade becomes a canvas for laser-projected, colorful animated visuals showcasing the art of Terry Estioko of Estioko Designs.

You might remember this first happened for the holiday season in 2020 — when Christmas in the Park and Downtown Ice were canceled because of COVID-19 — thanks to a partnership between the late Chris Esparza and the city of San Jose. The tradition continues now, with Annie Hermes of Messenger Events working with the city on the display, which will change every week.

AFTER HOURS: It’s been a few years since the Tech Interactive held one of its “Tech at Nite” events, giving the over-21 crowd a chance to explore the museum after the kids clear out. But the fun returns Dec. 19, starting at 7:30 p.m., with music curated by Universal Grammar, DIY holiday crafts organized by Local Color and a “Science of Whisky” tasting experience led by San Jose’s award-winning 10th Street Distillery.

Tech Interactive CEO Katrina Stevens said “Tech at Nite” offers an opportunity to connect with the learning center, but this time as a playground for grown-ups. “We often hear from young adults that they have fond memories of visiting as a kid but haven’t been back since,” she said. More info and tickets are available at www.thetech.org/techatnite.

BIRTHDAY BASH: I’m sure lots of people celebrate milestone birthdays by taking in a show at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, but not many celebrate by performing one. But that’s what Tony Award-nominated composer Andrew Lippa is doing Monday to celebrate his 60th birthday.

“Lippa at 60” is a benefit for TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto, in which Lippa will perform onstage, joined by a few special guests and under the musical direction of TheatreWorks’ William Liberatore. Ticket packages — which can include receptions before and after the 7:30 p.m. concert — start at $75, and they are going fast. Go to www.theatreworks.org for information.

PIANO AT THE PARK: It’s said the top three rules of real estate are location, location, location — and the new location of Christmas in the Park’s Jingle Bell Stage at the north end of Plaza de Cesar Chavez is working just fine for Fil Maresca, who’s managing the folks selling beer and wine at the Park Tavern. He’s pretty sure the tented oasis is a nice spot for parents or grandparents whose kids are performing on stage each night.

But it never hurts to add a little something extra. On the next two Wednesday nights — that’s Dec. 18 and 25 for the calendar-challenged — Park Tavern turns into a piano bar with pianist Lucan Tecson playing holiday tunes from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tecson, who just wrapped up a residency at the Ameswell Hotel in Mountain View, also has a set scheduled on the stage itself at 5 p.m. Dec. 21.

YIPPEE-KAI-YAY: When I wrote recently about holiday-themed cocktails at downtown San Jose bars, it was noted that I left out the “Die Hard” takeover at Five Points. Nothing against Five Points over here, which is a fine craft cocktail bar, but maybe I was subconsciously trying to stay out of the “Is ‘Die Hard’ a Christmas movie?” debate. I can see the arguments on both sides, but you can bet I’ll be watching the 1988 Bruce Willis action classic this month.

This is it for me until 2025, so here’s to a festive and safe holiday season to everyone — whether or not you believe in John McClane or not.