The sounds of the season will fill churches and schools alike starting this week.

South County’s longest running musical tradition takes place Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, 4th and Orange Streets in Ripon. That’s when the Ripon Oratorio Society will celebrate the Christmas season with the 65th presentation of Handel’s Messiah.

An offering will be taken afterwards.

The following Sunday on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m., the Manteca Community Choir under the direction of Anne Talcott will be performing the Christmas cantata, “Hallelujah! Light Has Come.”  Manteca Presbyterian Church will host the event. There are more than 60 members of the community choir plus guests from Stockton’s St. Paul’s Methodist Church.  There is no charge for this musical event although a free-willing offering will be taken for future performances.

The winter concert season for the Manteca Unified School District starts Wednesday. All concerts are free and open to the public.

The Joseph Widmer Elementary School Winter Concert with their band and choir will perform Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 6:30 p.m.

Veritas’ School band (grades 6-8) will be performing on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. in the school multipurpose room.  They are directed by Melissa Manalastas and Mike Mulidor.

A number of Manteca Unified high school and elementary bands will participate in the Manteca Chamber of Commerce’s twilight Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 4, starting at 5 p.m. on Yosemite Avenue in downtown Manteca.

The East Union High Choirs will present their Winter Concert on Monday, Dec. 6, at the Manteca Presbyterian Church on North and Main.  The 7 p.m. concert is free to the public and will be directed by Anne Talcott.

The Great Valley Winter Concert will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. in the Great Valley Gym.  It will feature choirs from grades 4-6 and 7-8, Beginning Band, Intermediate Band and 7th and 8th grade Band.  They are directed by Andrew Hildebrand.

The Sierra High Choir, under the direction of Daniel Talcott, will be performing on Dec. 7 in the school cafeteria at 7 p.m.

Mossdale Elementary School, under the direction of Kathrine Puck and Mike Mulidor, will have a Winter Concert on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Mossdale Gym.  It will feature the Beginning Band as well as the Beginning Choir.

Shasta School will present their band and choir concert on Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Shasta gym.  The choir is directed by Cindy Karim.  The 5th- and 6th-grade band is directed by Miss Ehlen.  The 7th- and 8th-grade band is conducted by Mr. Beattie.

The East Union High School Band and Jazz Band will be performing on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the East Union cafeteria.  They are under the direction of Terry Silveira.

The Neil Hafley and McParland Elementary School Winter Concert with both the band and choir will be on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at Neil Hafley Elementary School. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The Weston Ranch High Choir Concert will be held on Dec. 7, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in the school theatre. The choir will be directed by Jessica Claud. 

No admission fee is required and is open to the public.

New Haven and Joshua Cowell will have a Winter Concert on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the Manteca High Theatre. This performance will be conducted by Stephanie Rawls.

The Weston Ranch High Band, Jazz Band and Orchestra Winter Concert will be on Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. in the Weston Ranch theatre. Music groups performing are directed by Joe Barron. Admission is free.

The Sierra High Band concert will be Thursday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.  A baked-potato dinner will be served starting at 5 p.m. E-mail band director Rick Hammarstrom at rhammarstrom@musd.net for tickets.

Stella Brockman and Veritas Elementary Schools will present their Winter Choir Concert, directed by Terri Richichi, on Thursday, Dec. 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the Stella Brockman Gym. The choir consists of 4th-8th graders.

The George Komure Winter Concert will be held on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. in the gym.  It will feature the Advanced 7th-8th Grade Band and Violinists.  They are directed by Dana O’Dell.

Lathrop Elementary Winter Concert will be held on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Lathrop School Gymnasium.  They will also be performing on Dec. 11 at the Lathrop Community Center for the Community Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Lincoln School, directed by Miss Ehlen, will present their Winter Choir Concert on December 9th at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln cafeteria. The choir features 4th-, 5th- and 6th-grade students.

The “Lathrop Tree Lighting Ceremony” will be held on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the Lathrop Community Center. There will be a special performance by the LAMP band and choir directed by Desiree Bugarin and Elizabeth Van Eerde.

The Manteca High School Holiday Concert is Monday, Dec. 13, at 7p.m. in the MHS cafeteria.  Both the band and choir will perform.  The choir, under the direction of Mary Monaghan, is presenting Vivaldi’s “Gloria.”  The band is under the direction of Anthony Dahl.

The Lathrop High Winter Concert will be held in the LHS Performing Arts Building – Theater on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.  The LHS Band is directed by Desiree Bugarin and the LHS Concert Choir is directed by Elizabeth Van Eerde. No tickets are needed.

Lincoln School, directed by Miss Ehlen, will present their Winter Band Concert on Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.  This concert will feature musicians from the 5th-8th grades.

Brock Elliott will be hosting their Winter Concert on Tuesday, Dec. 14. The choir will be performing at 6 p.m. and then 6-8th grade band will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Both performances will be held in the cafeteria and will be directed by Melissa Manalastas.

The Walter Woodward Elementary bands and choirs will present a Winter Concert on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. in the gym.  All groups are directed by Shannon Beattie.

The Golden West and Sequoia Winter Concert will be held at Sequoia School on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.  The band and choir are under the direction of Wendell Dotson and Cindy Karim.

Stella Brockman will present their Winter Band Concert, directed by Terri Richichi, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Stella Brockman gym.  It will feature band students in 6th-8th grade.

French Camp Elementary will be holding a Holiday Band Concert on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m.  The band program is under the direction of Jack Hepworth.

The August Knodt Elementary band and choir will present their Winter Concert Thursday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. in the Woodward gym.  The music program is under the direction of Jack Hepworth.