The Ensign Stake will present a "Messiah" sing-along this evening at 7:30 at the Ensign LDS Stake Center, 589 18th Ave.
Beryl Smiley will conduct, accompanied by organist Melvin Dunn and a string ensemble. Vocal soloists will be soprano Heidi Sonya Bloyer, alto Susan Cook, tenor Roger Summerhays and bass Merrill Wilson. A limited number of scores will be available, and admission is free.- RALPH WOODWARD JR. will lead the Salt Lake Children's Choir in a free Christmas concert this evening at 7:30 at the Federal Heights LDS Ward, 1300 E. Fairfax. Featured will be music of early masters as well as familiar and lesser-known carols from many lands.
- WILL KESLING will direct the Will Kesling Chorale and Cache Chamber Orchestra in a free "Messiah" sing-in at 7:30 this evening in the Logan Tabernacle. Participants are advised to bring their own scores, though some will be available for purchase.
- "FOR UNTO US A Child Is Born," the Salt Lake Symphonic Choir's annual Christmas program at First Baptist Church, will take place at 7:30 this evening at the church, 777 S. 1300 East. George Welch will direct the program, which is free to the public.
- HALE CENTER THEATER concludes its free presentation of the John Rutter Magnificat with a performance at 8 this evening at the theater, 2801 S. Main. Kurk Davidson directs, with Julie Watson, Diane Hall and Natalie Foster as soloists and piano accompaniment by Janeen Stevens.
- UTAH REGIONAL BALLET'S presentation of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" continues this week with performances Monday, Dec. 19, at 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday, Dec. 20-22, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall of Brigham Young University's Harris Fine Arts Center.
Michael Onstad dances the part of Drosselmeyer, with Joseph Woelfel as the Cavalier and Brittnee Colledge and Teresa Adams as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Jennifer Schow will perform Clara, with Scott Young and Josh Pate as Fritz. Jacqueline Colledge is artistic director and creator of the Willam F. Chris-ten-sen-based choreography. Scenic design is by Bill Kirkpatrick and costume design by Sarah B. Price.
Evening performances are $10, with an orchestra directed by Clyn Barrus; matinees are $8, with tape accompaniment. There is a $2 discount for students, senior citizens and BYU faculty and staff.
- BALLET WEST continues its presentation of "The Nutcracker" at the Capitol Theatre with performances Dec. 19-23 and 27-30 at 7 p.m. and matinees Dec. 22, 23, 27, 28 and 31 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 24 at noon.
Choreography is by Willam F. Christensen, with Terence Kern conducting the Utah Chamber Orchestra. Performances feature several casts of Ballet West dancers, including 280 children alternating.
Tickets, priced from $10 to $40, are available at the Capitol Theatre box office and all ArtTix outlets (355-2787). Sugar Plum parties on stage will follow some matinees, with tickets to these $7.
- "A CHRISTMAS DREAM," a presentation of the Ballet Centre, will have performances on Tuesday-Thursday, Dec. 20-22 at 7:30 p.m., in the Ballet Centre, 70 E. 4880 South in Murray. Admission is $2.
A young girl has a Christmas party at her home, then falls asleep and dreams of dancing with soldiers, bears, snowmen, fairies and other magical characters. The original choreography and story were created by the Ballet Center faculty, who trained the dancers.
- THE "CHILDREN'S NUTCRACKER BALLET" will mark its seventh year with performances at Salt Lake Community College's Grand Theatre, 1575 State Street, on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 20 and 21, at 7:30 p.m.
More than 160 children ages 3-18 will participate, with sets from Michigan and exceptional costumes, says Barbara Nesi Olsen, director of the Utah Artists Junior Ballet Company, which presents the program. Tickets are $6, students and senior citizens $4, at the door.
- THE UTAH VALLEY Choral Society will present two seasonal works, Bach's Magnificat and Saint-Saens' "Christmas Oratorio," on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the Provo Tabernacle.
Accompanied by organist Parley Belnap and chamber ensembles from American Fork High School, the group is directed by Lois Johnson. Vocal soloists include soprano Arla Wilding, mezzo-soprano Deborah Dunning, alto Rita Felt, tenor Michael Austin and bass Paul Burningham.
The evening will conclude with four carol arrangements by Mack Wilberg. Admission is $6 ($4 students/seniors) at the door.
- THE KING'S SINGERS, England's popular six-man vocal ensemble, return to Salt Lake City for a one-night-only holiday program with the Utah Symphony on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Abravanel Hall.
With Robert Henderson conducting, the orchestra will be heard in Leopold Mozart's "Sleigh Ride" and excerpts from "The Nutcracker" and "Hansel and Gretel." The King's Singers will offer groups of traditional English, German, Spanish and American carols, some as sing-alongs.
Tickets for the 8 p.m. performance are sold out but, responding to the demand, the orchestra is opening its 1:30 p.m. rehearsal. Tickets to this are $15 ($6 students), with on-time arrival a must - i.e., no one will be seated after the rehearsal begins.
For information call 533-NOTE.