Christmas at Luther annually draws 8,000 patrons and sells out far in advance of the December concert dates. All tickets are sold for the 2011 series Dec. 1 to 4 at Luther College in Decorah. (Luther College photo)

UPDATE: Corrects date for Eastern Iowa Brass Band concert

By Diana Nollen/ SourceMedia Group

From a chorus of hallelujahs to an Irish holiday hooley, the spirit of Christmas will soar through the air this month.

Local musicians and international stars will be sharing the gift of music in just about every way imaginable, in theaters, concert halls, churches and pubs.

Christmas at Luther and Mannheim Steamroller at UNI have already sold out, so put some hustle in your bustle and grab other tickets in advance. In most cases, you’ll save a few bucks and guarantee your spot to hear these festive sacred and secular celebrations.

Even better, several of them are free — including the always fabulous carol of the low bells from the University of Iowa’s Holiday Tubas in Iowa City and Merry TubaChristmas in Cedar Rapids.

So grab your calendars and map out your musical merriment with this list:

Holiday concerts

If your vocal or instrumental ensemble is presenting a holiday concert, please email details to features@sourcemedia.net

Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale: Sing-A-Long Messiah! 3 p.m. Dec. 11, First Presbyterian Church, 310 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Tickets: $6 to $12 in advance from Chorale members or (319) 365-8221, $6 to $14 at the door, free ages 10 and under, $2 discount if you bring your own music; www.crchorale.org

Chamber Singers of Iowa City: A Service of Lessons & Carols, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 11, First Presbyterian Church, 2701 Rochester Ave., Iowa City; free admission, donations benefit the Crisis Center of Johnson County; www.icchambersingers.org

Chorale Midwest: “A Christmas Portrait,” 3 p.m. Dec. 18, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, 9000 C Ave., Marion; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, First Presbyterian Church, 310 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Tickets: $12 in advance from Chorale members, $15 at the door; www.choralemidwest.org

SOLD OUT Christmas at Luther: “Journey to the Light,” Dec. 1 to 4, Center for Faith and Life, Luther College, Decorah

Coe College, Cedar Rapids: Christmas Convocation, 11 a.m. Dec. 6; Christmas Vespers, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, Sinclair Auditorium, 1220 First Ave. NE; free

Cornell College, Mount Vernon: Holiday Choral Concert, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, King Chapel, 600 First St. W; free

Cruz Steele Presents: Kim Nalley with Tammy Hall, 8 p.m. Dec. 16 and 17, Campbell Steele Gallery, 1064 Seventh Ave., Marion; $30, (319) 373-9211, www.campbellsteele.com

Dan Knight, pianist: Christmas Oratorio,7:30 p.m. Dec. 3,

Pianist Dan Knight

Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, 1301 Fifth St., Coralville, Steinway artist with guest singers and instrumentalists, $17 to $22, (319) 248-9370 or www.coralville.org

NEW: Dubuque Symphony Orchestra: Holiday Pops Family Concert, 1 p.m. Dec. 3, Five Flags Theater, 405 Main St., Dubuque; $10 to $30, Five Flags Box Office or www.dubuquesymphony.org

Dubuque Symphony Orchestra: Holiday Pops Celebration, 7:30 Dec. 3 and 2 p.m. Dec. 4, Five Flags Theater, 405 Main St., Dubuque; $11 to $73, Five Flags Box Office or www.dubuquesymphony.org

Eastern Iowa Brass Band: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, Mount Vernon District Auditorium, Middle School, 525 Palisades Rd. SW. Mount Vernon; $4 and $10, (319) 624-2944, http://easterniowabrassband.com/upcoming-concerts

Euforquestra: Home for the Holidays II, with Dennis McMurrin & the Demolition Band and David Zollo, 9 p.m. Dec. 23, Gabe’s, 330 E. Washington St., Iowa City, benefit for Johnson County Crisis Center Food Bank, all ages until midnight, $15 day of show, $10 in advance at Gabe’s, Iowa City Yacht Club or www.ticketfly.com/event/74193/ 

Festival of Carols: 7 p.m. Dec. 15, Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City, free family event, www.englert.org

Great Bluegrass Herons Acoustic Christmas Concert: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3, 1:30 p.m. Dec. 4, Iowa Theatre Artists Company, 4709 220th Trl., Amana, $15, (319) 622-3222

Holiday Tubas: University of Iowa outdoor concert, 12:30 p.m. Dec. 9, Old Capitol steps, downtown Iowa City; free

Irish Christmas in America: 7 p.m. Dec. 6, Irish musicians, singers and dancers at CSPS, 1103 Third St SE, Cedar Rapids; $30 in advance, $35 at the door, (319) 364-1580, www.legionarts.org

 Lynne Rothrock’s Christmas Cabaret:1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9,

Cabaret singer Lynne Rothrock of Cedar Rapids (Alisabeth photo)

7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, 1:30 p.m. Dec. 11, Iowa Theatre Artists Company, 4709 220th Trl., Amana, $10 and $20, (319) 622-3222; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 to 18, ARA Gallery, 4850 Armar Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids, $25, (319) 366-2520; http://lynnerothrock.com

SOLD OUT Mannheim Steamroller: 5 and 8 p.m. Dec. 16, Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, University of Northern Iowa, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls

Mannheim Steamroller: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21, Adler Theatre, 136 E. Third St., Davenport; $39 to $65, Adler Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, 1-(800) 745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com

Merry TubaChristmas: 2 p.m. Dec. 10, Westdale Mall, Cedar Rapids; area low brass players invited to play; details at www.crtubachristmas.com

Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids: “Lessons & Carols,”7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, Stello Performance Hall, Warde Hall, 1330 Elmhurst Dr. NE; free, www.mtmercy.edu/news-events#events

Orchestra Iowa: “A Baroque Christmas,” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, Sinclair Auditorium, Coe College, 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, $20 to $40 reserved; 2:30 p.m. Dec. 4, Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, 1301 Fifth St., Coralville, $25 general admission, (319) 366-8203, 1-(800) 369-8863 or www.orchestraiowa.org

Orchestra Iowa Pops: “Radio Holly-Days,” featuring Five By Design, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 18, Sinclair Auditorium, Coe College, 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, $20 to $40 reserved; (319) 366-8203, 1-(800) 369-8863 or www.orchestraiowa.org

Riverside Casino: Jingle Bell Rock, featuring Eddie Money, Mickey Thomas of Starship and Lou Gramm of Foreigner, 8 p.m. Dec. 10, Event Center, 3184 Highway 22, Riverside; $36 to $46, Casino Gift Shop, www.riversidecasinoandresort.com or 1-(877) 677-3456

Tribute:Vocalists Carol Montag, Nina Swanson, Kathy Donnelly and friends,

Tribute features (from left) Nina Swanson, Carol Montag and Kathy Donnelly. (Tribute photo)

7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21, Theatre Cedar Rapids, 102 Third St. SE; $29, (319) 366-8591 or www.theatrecr.org

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls: UNI Varsity Men’s Glee Club Christmas Variety Show, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, 8201 Dakota St., tickets at (319) 273-4TIX; Chimes of Christmas, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, Gallagher-Bluedorn, tickets at (319) 273-4TIX; UNI New Horizons Band Winter Concert. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, Gallagher-Bluedorn, free; UNI Children’s Choir Winter Concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 16, Bengtson Auditorium, Russell Hall, free; www.uni.edu/music/events/index.html

Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony: “A Baroque Holiday,” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, University of Northern Iowa, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls; $19 to $35, (319) 273-4TIX, 1-(877) 549-SHOW or www.wcfsymphony.org

White Lights Series: Cedar Rapids Public Library, Westdale Mall, free admission; 2 p.m. Dec. 3, St. Paul’s Methodist Church Handbell Choirs; 2 p.m. Dec. 17, Young at Harp; www.crlibrary.org