The countdown to the holidays is ticking away, so there is no better time to start planning your seasonal festivities. The Colburn School invites you to join our end-of-semester events. We offer a variety of performances next month, highlighting the accomplishments of our students. Here’s a quick list of events to kick off the season’s merriments.
Now that the calendar has turned to November, there’s no denying the holidays are soon upon us. That means ’tis the season for special occasions with friends and family, including the Colburn community. It’s also the time of year we celebrate the hard work and dedication of our students. We’re heralding in the season with choral joy. We’re filling the halls with cheery brass and uplifting recitals. And, of course, we’re showcasing the merry spirit our talented young artists present every day.
So before wrapping up your holiday plans, check out this snapshot of happenings taking place at the Colburn School in December and add them to your holiday wish list.
Colburn Orchestra: Cultural Landscapes: Smetana’s Má vlast
December 6, 2025
The Wallis, 7:30 pm
Early next month, the Colburn Orchestra travels to The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. Conservatory students perform under the baton of Kevin John Edusei, who leads the orchestra, including featured cellist Sieun Park, through a melodic journey of compositions by Bloch and Smetana.
“There’s something powerful about sharing Bloch’s Schelomo in a space where the audience can feel the intimacy and dramatic breadth of the piece,” says Park. “The opportunity to present this work in December—when people are perhaps more reflective—adds a special dimension for me. December naturally invites reflection on the past year, on hope, peace, and renewal, and the introspective, lyrical nature of this piece resonates with that mood. I’m especially conscious of how this piece can be both deeply personal and connecting, and for an audience, that can help set a mood of contemplation, of shared musical experience, that aligns nicely with the spirit of the holidays.”
Community School Winter Choral Concert
December 7, 2025
Zipper Hall, 6 pm
It wouldn’t be a celebratory time of year without the harmonies of the Colburn Children’s Choir, Youth Chorus, and Concert Choir filling the halls (Zipper Hall, that is). This year’s theme, Sing Joy, promises inspirational performances, including Beethoven’s “Hallelujah from the Mt. of Olives,” Bach’s “Jesu Joy,” “Carol of the Bells,” “Fum Fum Fum,” and more. Adrian Dunn, Director of Choral Programs and a member of the Voice faculty for the Community School, says the occasion shines a bright light on “the community of singers.”
“Every song, every lyric, and every note carries the enthusiasm and heart of these young artists,” he says. “Their energy, joy, and commitment remind me why I love teaching. I want the audience to come ready to feel uplifted and inspired. This evening is all about joy and the power of voices coming together in harmony.”
Canadian Brass Holiday Extravaganza
December 9, 2025
Zipper Hall, 7 pm
Rejoice with the vibrant, exciting, and energetic Canadian Brass quintet. The internationally-renowned musicians return to the Colburn campus in early December as part of their Holiday Extravaganza tour, a highly-acclaimed tradition lasting 50 years and counting. Their bold sounds are sure to brighten spirits.
Colburn Winter Dance Celebration
December 13, 2025
Zipper Hall, 2 and 5 pm
The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute welcomes you to its first major performance of the year. The Winter Dance Celebration features Youth Dance and Dance Academy students demonstrating their skills in tap, modern, and ballet. Dancers present master works as well as new choreography with dynamic performances.
“I always look forward to seeing all the different works that department chairs and faculty have chosen or choreographed for the students, and how those pieces come together as an overall performance,” says Janie Tayler, TZDI Artistic Director. “I hope the dancers enjoy learning about all the things that come together to make a live performance and leave feeling a performance high that replays in their minds for a few days!”
Community School Winter Honors Recital
December 14, 2025
Zipper Hall, 1 pm
For the past several months, Community School students have been diligently practicing and advancing their skills, musical understanding, and artistry. The Winter Honors Recital highlights those accomplishments with a select group of students taking center stage.
“It’s very prestigious for the students as there are only nine or 10 performers who are selected through a rigorous audition process,” says Susan Cook, Dean of the Community School. “These are all really very amazing concerts that show the breadth and depth of students enrolled in the Community School. Every year we keep thinking that standard of the performances becomes higher and higher.”
Academy Virtuosi
December 14, 2025
Zipper Hall, 7 pm
Twice a year, a group of Music Academy students exhibit the vast extent of their musicianship with the Academy Virtuosi, a conductor-less concert.
“When I first was asked to lead the Virtuosi, I was intrigued by the idea of teaching a group so young to play in an ensemble without a conductor. I wasn’t quite sure how it would go, but I have been absolutely impressed and inspired every year by these young musicians,” says Margaret Batjer, Music Academy Director and Academy Virtuosi Director.
“I love hearing the December program each year because it articulates vividly the growth of these young talented musicians in the span of only three and a half months,” she adds. “This program is demanding in every way and one of the most varied programs the Virtuosi has ever done—featuring a lovely Divertimento by Mozart and a string symphony written by Mendelssohn when he was only 13 years old, the same age as our youngest member of Virtuosi!”
There’s also band concerts, various ensembles, and other performances! To see a full listing of upcoming events in November and December, check out our Calendar.