Grains of Time, men's a cappella, Stewart Theatre, NCSU.

Carolina Harmony Chorus, women's a cappella, Fletcher Opera Theater, Progress Energy Center.

"FOUND Magazine vs. Postsecret," with FOUND's Davy and Peter Rothbart and PostSecret's Frank Warren, Manbites Dog Theater, Durham.

"Bernstein on Broadway," Duke Opera Workshop, Nelson Music Room, Duke University. Also Dec. 2.

"Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol," Actors Comedy Lab and Raleigh Little Theatre at RLT. Through Dec. 16.

Jamey Aebersold, saxophone, with Rich Perry, tenor sax, and Dave Stryker, guitar, Hill Hall Auditorium, UNC-CH.

Girlyman, folk, Arts Center, Carrboro.

"A Camelot Christmas," Renaissance Faire festival, Kerr Scott Building, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh. Also Dec. 2.

Scandinavian Christmas Fair, Holshouser Building, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh.

"Nutcracker on Ice," Triangle SportsPlex, Hillsborough.

Triangle Wind Ensemble, holiday concert, Herb Young Community Center, Cary.

Old Time Winter Festival, downtown Cary.

2-Hillyer Community Chorus, Hillyer Memorial Christian Church, Raleigh.

UNC Baroque Ensemble, Person Recital Hall, UNC-CH.

Meredith Christmas Concert, featuring the Meredith Chorus, Chorale, Encore and String Orchestra, Jones Auditorium. Meredith College, Raleigh.

Handel's "Messiah," Cary Community Choir, Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church, Cary.

Triangle Youth Philharmonic, Meymandi Concert Hall, Progress Energy Center.

Artwalk in Boylan Heights, Boylan Heights neighborhood, Raleigh. www.boylanheights.org.

3-UNC Wind Ensemble and Symphony Band, Memorial Hall, UNC-CH.

4-"A Christmas Carol," musical adaptation of the Dickens classic, Theatre in the Park, Memorial Auditorium, Progress Energy Center. Through Dec. 12.

Duke Chorale, Christmas concert, Duke Chapel, Duke University.

5-highlight ice skating

"Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour," RBC Center, Raleigh.

Gabriella and Troy have got chills, and they're multiplyin'. But ice queen Sharpay is intent on melting Troy's heart. Could this new adaptation of the mega-hit Disney Channel movie be the start of something new? Probably not ... unless Sharpay pulls a Tonya Harding on Gabriella. Could be hot! Through Dec. 9.

UNC Symphony Orchestra, music, Memorial Hall, UNC-CH.

Duke Symphony Orchestra with Laura Byrne, harp, Baldwin Auditorium, Duke University.

6-Duke Jazz Ensemble with singer Nnenna Freelon, Baldwin Auditorium, Duke University.

"Rabbit Hole," Pulitzer Prize-winning domestic drama, Manbites Dog Theater, Durham. Through Dec. 22.

"The Santaland Diaries," comedy, Common Ground Theatre, Durham. Through Dec. 15.

7-N.C. Symphony, Handel's "Messiah" with guest vocalists and music director Grant Llewellyn. Meymandi Concert Hall, Progress Energy Center.

"Cinderella," holiday musical (presented by Raleigh Little Theatre), Fletcher Opera Theater, Progress Energy Center. Through Dec. 16.

"A Christmas Story," Applause! Cary Youth Theatre and Cary Players, Old Cary Elementary, Cary. Through Dec. 16.

N.C. Jazz Repertory Orchestra, holiday music, Memorial Hall, UNC-CH.

Transactors Holiday Extravaganza, improvisational theater, ArtsCenter, Carrboro.

Collegium Musicum, First Presbyterian Church, Durham.

Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart, roots rock, Arts Center, Carrboro.

8-highlight opera

"Acis and Galatea," Memorial Hall, UNC-CH.

Handel in December usually means "Messiah," but UNC's Ensemble Courant and faculty soloists Valentin Lanzrein and Jeanne Fischer change the focus. They'll perform this lovely two-act opera, Handel's most popular in his lifetime, based on the Roman myth about a nymph in love with a shepherd.

Choral Society of Durham, Charpentier Midnight Mass and Carols, Duke Chapel, Duke University. Also Dec. 9.

N.C. Master Chorale, Handel's "Messiah," Meymandi Concert Hall, Progress Energy Center.

Gryphon Trio, Reynolds Theater, Duke University.

Concert Singers of Cary, holiday music, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Cary.

Johnston County Chorale, holiday music, Paul A. Johnston Auditorium, Smithfield.

Holiday Jazz Concert, Hayti Heritage Center, Durham.

Capital City Girls Choir, Christmas concert, Jones Auditorium, Meredith College.

Duke University String School. holiday festival, Baldwin Auditorium, Duke University.

Durham Symphony, Young Artist Competition, Durham Arts Council, Durham.

9-N.C. Symphony, Handel's "Messiah" with guest vocalists and music director Grant Llewellyn. Memorial Hall, UNC-CH.

Raleigh Symphony Orchestra and Raleigh Boychoir, Meymandi Concert Hall, Progress Energy Center.

Mighty Clouds of Joy, gospel, Clayton Center, Clayton.

Chestnut Brass, Herb Young Community Center.

Jon Shain, singer-songwriter, Page-Walker Arts & History Center, Cary.

UNC Consort of Viols, Christmas music, Person Recital Hall, UNC-CH.

13-N.C. Symphony, holiday pops with assistant conductor Joan Landry. Memorial Hall, UNC-CH.

Jane Moheit, jazz vocalist, Carolina Theatre, Durham.

14-"Nutcracker," Carolina Ballet, Memorial Auditorium, Progress Energy Center. Through Dec. 23.

"A Christmas Memory," Ira David Wood III's one-man show, Theatre in the Park, Raleigh. Through Dec. 16.

15-Raleigh Ringers with Dean Shostak, glass armonica, Meymandi Concert Hall, Progress Energy Center. Also Dec. 16.

17-Triangle Brass Band, Triangle Youth Brass Band and Triangle Youth Brass Ensemble, Meymandi Concert Hall, Progress Energy Center.

18-Raleigh Boychoir, holiday music, Edenton Street United Methodist Church, Raleigh.

22-N.C. Symphony, gospel Christmas music with local choirs and resident conductor William Henry Curry, Meymandi Concert Hall, Progress Energy Center.

24-Kwanzaa Celebration, Hayti Heritage Center, Durham. Through Jan. 1, 2008.

26-"White Christmas," touring musical, Memorial Auditorium, Progress Energy Center. Through Dec. 30.

29-Cary Kwanzaa, Herbert C. Young Community Center, Cary.

31-highlight classical

N.C. Symphony New Year's Eve gala, Meymandi Concert Hall, Progress Energy Center.

The symphony will honor its tradition with a few Viennese waltzes. But music director Grant Llewellyn is freshening the mix with unusual classical nuggets, rich vocals from mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy, and down-home sounds from the Red Clay Ramblers.

First Night Raleigh, performances, food and various activities, downtown Raleigh. www.firstnightraleigh.com.

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