The Cayuga Vault in Santa Cruz presents a Bridge to Peace concert with Eliyahu and Qadim Ensemble, performing mystical music of the Near East on Friday, November 21 at 8:00 pm at the Cayuga Vault. The music is described as a “cross-cultural journey from the mountains of Northern India through the deserts of the Middle East to the Mediterranean celebrating the common music heritage of the regions’ ancient spiritual traditions.” Qadim, or 'Eastern wind,' is a word found in both Arabic and Hebrew meaning 'ancient' as well as 'that which will come.' The group, acclaimed for performances rendered with passion, authentic musicianship, and spirituality, specializes in music inspired by ancient mystical music of the Near East. Since first forming in 2006, Eliyahu & Qadim has quickly built a standing room only following throughout the Bay Area and beyond, bringing together Indian, Iranian, Jewish, Moroccan and Arabic musicians to celebrate the common musical and spiritual heritage of the now troubled region's ancient cultures. www.cayugavault.com 831-421-9471. Tickets are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com

Nicole Paiement conducts the full UCSC Orchestra and the combined vocal forces of the UCSC Chamber Singers and Concert Choir -- as well as members of the Cabrillo Children’s Choir -- in a semi-staged presentation of Carl Orff’s dramatic choral masterpiece "Carmina Burana" based on medieval texts about love, drinking, and springtime. Featured vocal soloists for "Carmina Burana" are soprano Claire Gendler, tenor Brian Staufenbiel, and baritone Peter Tuff. The program also features the premiere of “Expand the Hive” for orchestra, a recent work by UCSC student Nick Vasallo, winner of the 2008 UCSC Orchestral Composition Competition, as well as the premiere of a newly commissioned work “Through a Crack in the Concrete” by UCSC alum Christopher Pratorius. On November 21, 22, and 23 in the Music Center Recital Hall at UC Santa Cruz. Reserved seats may still be available at www.santacruztickets.com

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the publication of Kenneth Grahame’s beloved tale of friendship and adventure, Shakespeare Santa Cruz and the UC Santa Cruz Theater Arts Department bring back their inaugural holiday production, The Wind in the Willows for the 2008 Holiday Season. The production will bring to life a new version by Kate Hawley and Paul Whitworth. Randall Stuart will direct. The Wind in the Willows follows the seasonal adventures of Mole and his friend Ratty along the riverbank as they cross paths with Badger of the Wild Wood, and the jovial and irrepressible Mr. Toad of Toad Hall whose latest obsession is the motorcar. Shakespeare Santa Cruz acting veteran Mike Ryan will play the role of Mr. Toad. The Wind in the Willows plays in the UC Santa Cruz Mainstage Theater, November 21 – December 14. Tickets and information at www.shakespearesantacruz.org or www.santacruztickets.com or (831) 459-2159

Community Music School of Santa Cruz presents A Living History Concert with Chris Caswell, one of the masters of the modern Celtic harp. Saturday, November 22 at 8:00 PM at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 216 Oakland Ave. on Depot Hill off Escalona in Capitola. Tickets available in advance or at the door. Community Music School at 831-426-9155.

The Santa Cruz Chamber Players present Unaccompanied: Music For Solo Instruments, music by J.S. Bach, Benjamin Britten, C.P.E. Bach, and Victor Babin. Saturday, November 22, 8:00 pm and Sunday, November 23, 3:00 pm at Christ Lutheran Church in Aptos (10707 Soquel Drive, Aptos, Exit Highway 1 at Freedom Blvd). This concert explores the repertoire written for instruments that are almost never heard playing alone. These works make use of a wide palette of sounds and special techniques unique to each solo instrument, allowing the composers and performers enormous expressive freedom. You will hear J.S. Bach’s breathtakingly beautiful Sonata in A Minor for Violin Alone, C.P.E. Bach’s Sonata for Flute Solo, Divertissement Aspenois written by Victor Babin as a loving tribute to the clarinet, and two of Britten’s greatest works: Six Metamorphoses After Ovid for oboe and Cello Suite No. 1, a monumental work dedicated to Mstislav Rostropovich. With Carol Panofsky, artistic director and oboe; Lars Johannesson, baroque flute; Jeff Gallagher, clarinet; David Wilson, baroque violin; Christopher Costanza, cello. Tickets for all SC Chamber Players' concerts are available at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium Box Office (831.420.5260) and online: santacruztickets.com. Single tickets are also available at the door 1/2 hr. prior to each performance

Continuing

Kids on Broadway presents the musical Fiddler on the Roof, playing through November 23 at Louden Nelson Community Center in Santa Cruz. For tickets and information, go to kidsonbroadway.org (info: 831-425-3455)

Cabrillo College presents its fall production Seussical, the fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza that brings to life all of the favorite Dr. Seuss characters including The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and all of the Whos of Whoville! These classic, colorful tales are seamlessly brought together by Jojo, a young boy and “thinker of strange and wonderful thinks!” As each story unfolds you will marvel at how relevant and profound Seuss’s subtle themes are, making this musical one that appeals to all ages. Through November 23. Saturdays at 8:00 PM; Saturday & Sunday matinees at 3:00 PM; Special added performance on Friday, Nov. 14. Cabrillo Theater, Cabrillo College 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Tickets: 831-479-6331 or www.ticketguys.com

The Clean House, an unusual comedy by Sara Ruhl, plays in the Studio Theater at the Hartnell College Performing Arts Center in Salinas, November 7-23 and December 5-7. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. Tickets can be purchased online at westernstage.com or by calling the Ticket Office at (831) 755-6816, or from Monterey (831) 375-2111; fax 770-6105.

Coming up:

I Cantori di Carmel, under the direction of Dr. Sal Ferrantelli, will present its 2008 winter concert Noël! on December 6 and 7 at 8:00 pm in the Carmel Mission Basilica.  Featured soloists include Donna Bartoli, soprano, Katherine Edison, soprano, Linda Purdy, alto, and Art Schuller, bass. Instrumental accompanists include keyboardists Carol Kuzdenyi and Tiffany Truettwith orchestral members of Ensemble Monterey. The first half of the concert will follow the events of the Nativity story: Advent (Howells “Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks), Annunciation (Aquilanti's “Ave Maria”), Visitation (Pachelbel’s “Magnificat”), Veneration of Mary (Bruckner and Duruflé, “Tota Pulchra Est”), Revelation to the Shepherds (Ferrantelli’s arrangement of “Rise up Shepherd and Follow”), Birth of Christ (Nanino's “Hodie nobis caelorum Rex”, Wullner's “Kindleinzart”, Nelhybel’s “Estampie Natalis”), Journey of the Wise Men: the Epiphany (Handel's Ab Oriente venerunt Magi, Zeitler's “Where is he?” and the first chorus from Bach's Cantata 40, “Dazu ist erschienen der SohnGottes”). The second half of the program will include Haydn's “St. Nicholas Mass” and Ferrantelli”s “When David heard that Absalom was Slain.” Additional information: at www.icantori.org or (831) 644-8012.

Santa Cruz City Band and the Alushta, Ukraine, Music School Band perform in a Friendship Concert through Santa Cruz’s Sister Cities Program on Monday, December 8 at 7:30 PM at the Santa Cruz High School Auditorium, at 415 Walnut Ave. on the corner of Walnut and California in Santa Cruz. These enthusiastic and talented community bands will play music by many well-known Russian and American composers, such as Shostakovich, Sousa and others. Contact John Thomas at Thomas Musical Instruments in Santa Cruz. (831-425-0110)

Zambra, a female a cappella group, appears in a free holiday concert featuring Celtic, Judaic, European, and early American seasonal songs on Sunday December 14, in the 3 Bells Cafe Concert Series held at the United Methodist Church, 250 California St., Santa Cruz. Doors open at 6:30 pm; music begins at 7:00 pm. Ten women strong, Zambra sings original arrangements of glorious global vocal music in over 15 languages. Audiences have enjoyed their beautiful eclectic blend at the Cabrillo Music Festival, First Night celebrations in Santa Cruz and Monterey, Santa Cruz Accapellafest, St. Andrew’s Celtic Music Night, and numerous other celebratory events. Their seasonal CD, Iluminada: A Festival of Light is available from www.zambra.org. 3 Bells Café, an outreach of the United Methodists in Santa Cruz, is a venue for spiritual music and spoken word artists, a place of worship centered in music and prayer, and a source of renewal, connection, and reverence for the Santa Cruz community. At 3 Bells, the community comes together to support local and regional acts in an open and creative environment, to share an espresso with friends on Sunday nights, and to raise funds and assistance for local charities. 3 Bells Café and the United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz are open and affirming communities, working for sustainable community throughout Santa Cruz and building a green church in Live Oak. For more information contact 831-429-6800 or visit http://www.3bellscafe.org.

AUDITIONS, WORKSHOPS & OPPORTUNITIES:

Register now: Community Music School of Santa Cruz and Rhythm Fusion present a workshop with Chris Caswell, Celtic percussionist, on Sunday, Nov. 23 from 1-3 PM at Rhythm Fusion, 1541 C Pacific Ave. Santa Cruz.  Learn to play the Celtic frame drum or bodhran and the bones for that distinctive sound to accompany jigs and reels. Drums will be provided to try and buy. 20 percent off all bodhrans for all participants! To register, please call Community Music at 426-9155, e-mail shelley@communitymusicschool.org or visit Rhythm Fusion in downtown Santa Cruz: 1541C Pacific Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 423-2048 http://www.rhythmfusion.com http://www.communitymusicschool.org