Cougars & Mustangs 

Try as you might to avoid it, Christmas music is upon us. But there's no reason to resent it if it—so long as you don’t have to listen to the same song three times in one sitting. As foreign a concept as this can seem when strutting through your local Überstore, trying not to choke as the poorly constructed playlist on perpetual loop starts its rotation once more, Christmas music can be good. Very good, in fact. Whatever your stance on religion, a lot of classical music was written for the church. So you may as well embrace the Yuletide song—and your fellow college-goers are here to help with that.

Cuesta College will be holding its Holiday Concert twice, each performance at a different location. On Friday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in St. Timothy's Church in Morro Bay, and Friday, Dec. 14, at the Cuesta CPAC (also at 7:30 p.m.), you can enjoy as Cuesta's choirs make your season bright with their talent and charm. From chamber music to jazz, the bases will all be covered. Oh, and if you plan on attending the one at Cuesta itself, try parking in Lot 2, which will be free to use. Tickets cost $12 general, and $7 for seniors and students.

Cuesta's North County Chorus has a Winter Choral Concert of its own. On Sunday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m. at Santa Margarita Ranch, the chorus will present Bach's Magnificat in coordination with Symphony of the Vines. Cassandra Tarantino will conduct the event, which will feature soloists Sarah Jackson, Jumi Kim, Marcy Irving, Paul Osborne, and Robert Huber. General tickets cost $15, with $10 tickets available for students and seniors at or older than 65. Please also bring a new or gently used jacket to be donated to North Country Shelters.

What's a party without Cal Poly, though, right? Well, before you answer that with a quip about sobriety (shame on you!), I'll get to the point. On Saturday, Dec. 1, at 8 p.m. in the Harmon Hall of Poly's Performing Arts Center, the Cal Poly Choirs will present “A Christmas Celebration.” A new work by Cal Poly Music Professor Meredith Brammeier called “A Christmas Carol” will be performed, as will a carol sing-along. With faculty artist Gabrielle Castriotta on the oboe, the Cal Poly Brass Ensemble, Organist Paul Woodring, a capella group Take It SLO, and more performing, it's sure to be a wonderful evening. General tickets cost $14 and $12, with student and senior tickets at $12 and $9, depending on seating.

Finally, the Cuesta Master Chorale will present Sergei Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil, also known as Vespers, on Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. at the PAC. This masterpiece is one of the crowing achievements of Russian choral music. The event will also include a few carols arranged by Robert Shaw and Alice Parker. For tickets, visit pacslo.org/tickets. ∆

Intern Chris White-Sanborn compiled this week's Cougars and Mustangs. Send your collegiate news to [email protected]. Falalalala-lala-la-la.