CHAMPAIGN — The Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana will perform a traditional Christmas Concert Dec.16 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 405 W. Clark St., C.

Chester Alwes, the group's founder and conductor, will lead the concert.

He also will conduct the Sinai Temple Concert Singers at 4 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 9) at the Sinai Temple, 3104 Windsor Road, C, to celebrate the 90th birthday of Rabbi Isaac Neumann. That concert, free and open to the public, will feature historical Jewish liturgical music. It is not a worship service.

At the temple, Martha L. Alwes will be organist, and Martin Laufhutte will be the cello soloist.

At the BACH Christmas Concert, set for 7:30 p.m., the BACH chorus, orchestra and soloists will perform seasonal music from the Baroque period.

The conductors will be Alwes, Laurie Matheson and Andrea Solya. Also performing will be the University High School Madrigal Singers.

"This event — part concert, part homecoming celebration — has become a staple for many area residents, an opportunity to see old friends and bask in the glow of beloved music that, in and of itself, rekindles memories of Christmases past," Alwes said in a news release.

As in past concerts, there are three components:

— An opening prelude at 7:30 p.m. by the Uni costumed madrigal singers, led by Rick Murphy.

— The performance of larger Baroque works — the cantata "Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar" ("From Heaven Came the Heav'nly Hosts) by F.W. Zachow) and a setting of the Magnificat by Italian composer Antonio Perti. Both feature soloists, festive orchestrations and choruses.

— An audience singalong of well-known Christmas carols and hymns with the BACH chorus and orchestra. This year's lineup features such traditional favorites as "Savior of the Nations, Come," "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Joy to the World."

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and will be available at the door or at baroqueartists.org.