This weekend kicks off the holiday concert season in earnest. There are lots of concerts on tap, some of which are holiday themed, others are not, so there is something that should please every musical palette.

Below is a rundown of some of the highlights this weekend. For a complete listing of concerts, please click here to visit our December calendar.

• AMERICAN FESTIVAL CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA, “Christmas From the Ellen Eccles Theatre,” Dr. Craig Jessop, artistic director and conductor, Alyson Cambridge, soprano, guest artist, Dec. 6-7, 7:30 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on Dec. 7, Ellen Eccles Theatre, Logan, $12-$20 general, www.americanfestivalchorus.org.
• UTOPIA EARLY MUSIC, “Star in the East: An Early Music Christmas,” music includes works from around the world and across time, Emily Nelson and Clara Hurtado Lee, sopranos, Christopher LeCluyse, tenor, Gary Sorenson. Baritone, John Lenti, lute, Alexander and Aubrey Woods, violin and Eleanor Cox, baroque cello, Dec. 6, 8 p.m., Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m., Dec. 8, 5 p.m., Cathedral Church of St. Mark, 231 E. 100 South, pay as able (suggested donation of $15 general, $12 seniors and $10 students), www.utopiaearlymusic.org.
• UTAH SYMPHONY, Finishing Touches, “Schubert and Tchaikovsky,” Hans Graf, guest conductor, music includes Henri Dutilleux’s Timbres, Espace, Mouvement ou La nuit étoilée, Schubert’s Symphony No. 8, Unfinished, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3, Polish, Dec. 6, 10 a.m., Abravanel Hall, $15 general, 801-355-2787, 888-451-2787, www.utahsymphony.org.
• UTAH SYMPHONY, Masterworks Series, “Schubert and Tchaikovsky,” Hans Graf, guest conductor, music includes Henri Dutilleux’s Timbres, Espace, Mouvement ou La nuit étoilée, Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 Unfinished, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3, Polish, Dec. 6-7, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall, $18-$69 general (tickets are $5 more on the day of the performance), 801-355-2787, 888-451-2787, www.utahsymphony.org.
• SALT LAKE CHILDREN’S CHOIR, Annual Christmas Concert, Ralph B. Woodward, music director, Dec. 6 and 8, 8 p.m., Cathedral of the Madeleine, the performance will include music from around the world, and conclude with audience and choir joining for several carol favorites, free, but admission is limited to 6 years old and above, www.childrensing.com.
• VIVALDI BY CANDLELIGHT, “La Stravaganza: The Year 1713,” Gerald Elias, music director, music by Vivaldi and Corelli, Dec. 7, 8 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, South Temple at C Street, the concert is a benefit for the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy, $45 reserved, tickets at http://vivaldi.brownpapertickets.com/.
• SALT LAKE SYMPHONY, “Through a Child’s Eyes,” holiday program, Robert Baldwin, conductor, Lyric Opera Ensemble, music includes familiar holiday tunes and a performance of the short opera Amahl and the Night Visitors, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall, University of Utah, $10 general, $5 students and seniors, 801-531-7501 or at the door with cash, check or credit card, www.saltlakesymphony.org.
• AMERICAN WEST SYMPHONY AND CHORUS OF SANDY, “A Holiday Festival,” Joel Rosenberg, conductor, Soyong Jeong, piano, Tyler Kofoed, chorus director, music by Schumann, Barber, Beethoven, Handel, and a Christmas sing-a-long, Dec. 7, 8 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 8575 S. 700 East, $10 general, $8 students, $5 youth 7-15 years, tickets at the door, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall, University of Utah, $10 general, U. students free, tickets at the door, www.americanwestsymphony.org.
• JUBILATE CHORAL ENSEMBLE, Annual Holiday Concert, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m., Mount Tabor Lutheran Church, 175 S. 700 East, free, donations accepted (suggested $5), free reception will follow the performance.
• UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, Sundays@7 Faculty Spotlight, Holiday Piano Favorites, Dec. 8, 7 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall, David Gardner Hall, free.
• UTAH CHAMBER ARTISTS, Christmas Concert, “Tis the Season,” Dr. Barlow Bradford, conductor and music director, the evenings featured works are Britten’s Ceremony of Carols for choir and harp, selections from Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski’s Twenty Polish Christmas Carols, and the premiere of two carols by Barlow Bradford, the audience will be asked to join the choir and orchestra in a couple of familiar carols, after the concert the audience is invited to meet the musicians in Bastian Atrium and enjoy cookies and punch, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall, David Gardner Hall, University of Utah, $17.50 general, $12 students, 801-581-7100, www.kingtix.com.