Houston Chamber Choir presents “Tapestry: Christmas at the Villa” for annual holiday concerts at the Chapel of Villa de Matel

Houston Chamber Choir presents “Tapestry: Christmas at the Villa” for annual holiday concerts at the Chapel of Villa de Matel

Two concerts set for Saturday, Dec. 6, and two for Sunday, Dec. 7

WHAT:

The Grammy® Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir, under the direction of conductor Betsy Cook Weber, returns to the beauty of the Villa de Matel Chapel to present “Tapestry: Christmas at the Villa” on December 6 and December 7. The Choir’s annual holiday concerts share the universal message of peace and goodwill to the world.

A century ago, the cornerstone was laid to the Villa de Matel, one of Houston’s architectural treasures. The occupants of the Villa, the Sisters of Charity, also one of Houston’s treasures, represent all corners of the world, and they have long been interwoven in the tapestry of Houston life. The Chamber Choir is joined by the Treble Choir of Houston and Houston Bronze Ensemble in a celebration of Christmas at the Villa through carols that represent the Sisters' countries of origin. Only subscription holders are guaranteed a seat for these sell-out concerts.

WHO:

The Houston Chamber Choir is made up of 24 professional musicians of diverse backgrounds who hail from some of the finest music programs in the country, including Cleveland Institute of Music, New England Conservatory in Boston, Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Members of the Choir have performed professionally across the United States and internationally, singing in festivals, operas, concerts, church choirs and in musical theater.

WHEN:

Saturday, December 6, at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Sunday, December 7, at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

WHERE:

Chapel at Villa de Matel

6150 Lawndale St., Houston, TX 77023

COST: Single tickets for the performance range from $10 for students to $50 for general admission. Senior citizens, military personnel, and educators receive a discount. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.houstonchamberchoir.org/2025-2026-season/tapestry. 

MORE: Parking Instructions: All vehicles must enter through the main gate to the Villa de Matel on Lawndale Street. Free parking is available on site. The parking lot is located in the Northwest corner of the Villa de Matel campus. Golf cart shuttles can assist you from the parking lot to the chapel, if needed.

Check out our website at HoustonChamberChoir.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

About Houston Chamber Choir

Under new Artistic Director Dr. Betsy Cook Weber, the Grammy® Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir is a professional ensemble of 24 singers drawn from the region’s top vocal talent. Founded by Robert Simpson, who served as Artistic Director for 30 years, the Choir begins a new chapter with Weber’s inaugural 2025–26 season.

Simpson took the Choir to impressive heights over the years, producing several commercial recordings, including the complete choral works of Maurice Duruflé, which won a Grammy in 2019 for “Best Choral Performance.” Recognized with Chorus America’s Margaret Hillis Award and the American Prize, the Choir appeared at major national conventions and was selected for the 2020 World Symposium on Choral Music in New Zealand. Tours included Mexico, Wales, the U.S. Northeast, and most recently, “The Baltic Tour” in Latvia, Estonia and Sweden.

Weber, the former Madison Endowed Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, is internationally renowned as a conductor and educator.  While at UH, Concert Chorale performed at three national conventions and numerous state/regional conventions. Additionally, they competed in nine prestigious international choral competitions (Wales, France, Germany (2), Hungary, Italy, Norway, Netherlands, Austria), winning or placing in every category in which they entered.  Musica Mundi, which creates an international ranking of choirs, named UH Concert Chorale #1 among choirs where singers are under the age of 25 and #3 among choirs of all types and kinds. 

Weber also served the Houston Symphony Chorus for 15 years, first as Assistant/Associate Director and later as Director, preparing the singers for more than 200 concerts for some of the world’s greatest conductors and leading them on tours in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.