San Francisco Classical Voice

Gryphon Trio
The adventurous Gryphon Trio (Annalee Patipatanakoon, violin; Roman Borys, cello; and Jamie Parker, piano) typically programs a mix contemporary and standard repertory works — this concert is no exception. Haydn's Trio No. 27 in C and Schubert's Trio in D, D. 898, appear with the U.S. premiere of Jonathan Berger's Tears in Your Hand. Jan. 10, 8 p.m., Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Stanford University, $18-$40, (650) 725-ARTS, www.livelyarts.stanford.edu. (L.H.)

Avedis
Three varied French pieces, including the U.S. premiere of Damase’s Fifteen Minutes, contrast with the classic style of Romberg's Quintet in B-flat Major, Op. 21. Performances are by Alexandra Hawley, flute; Dan Levitan, harp; Roy Malan; violin, Paul Hersh, viola; Susan Freier, violin and viola; and Stephen Harrison, cello. Jan. 12, 2 p.m., Florence Gould Theater, San Francisco, $15-$20, (415) 392-4400, www.avedisconcerts.org. (C.G.)

Laurel Ensemble
The Laurel Ensemble, established in 2005 and with membership that shifts depending on the needs of a particular concert, performs unusual works from Eastern Europe and adds to the festivities surrounding the 100th anniversary of Shostakovich's birth. Two works by Kodály and Martinu's Trio for Flute, Cello, and Piano share the program with Shostakovich's Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57. Jan. 21, 8 p.m., Old First Church, San Francisco, $12-$15, (415) 474-1608, www.oldfirstconcerts.org. (L.H.)

Musica Pacifica: Jácaras!
Musica Pacifica's program of Spanish Baroque music balances popular and "classical" styles to demonstrate that they're not all that far apart. They'll play catchy, stomping dances such as jácaras, espanioletas, and marionas, all from Santiago de Murcia's 1732 guitar book, and works in folkloric styles by Vivaldi, Corelli, and Rameau. Jan, 12, First Lutheran Church, Palo Alto, 8 p.m.; Jan. 13, St. John's Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, 8 p.m.; Jan. 14, St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, San Francisco; 3:30 p.m., $22-$25, (510) 528-1725, www.sfems.org. (L.H.)

Clerestory
The men's choral ensemble Clerestory, founded in the fall of 2006, sings its second round of concerts this month. (Anna Carol Dudley named it one of the best concerts of 2006 in this week's issue.) The program features music of Machaut, Byrd, and Taverner. Jan. 12, 8 p.m., St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Berkeley, $8-$10, (510) 848-5107; Jan. 14, 5 p.m., St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, San Francisco, $8-$10, (415) 863-6371, www.clerestory.org. (L.H.)

San Francisco Renaissance Voices
Todd Jolly directs a concert titled "Mass for the Lunar New Year" — music to welcome the Year of the Boar. The San Francisco Renaissance Voices will perform the rarely heard Charles d’Ambeville’s Messe des Jésuites à Pékin (Mass of the Beijing Jesuits), composed during the Baroque period. Performed in the alternatim style, it will feature traditional Chinese instruments and music between the five polyphonic choral sections. Jan. 13, 8 p.m., Trinity Chapel, Berkeley; Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m., Seventh Avenue Performances, San Francisco; (510) 549-3864/(415)664-2543, www.sfrv.org. (C.G.)

American Bach Soloists
The superb singers and intrumentalists of ABS are joined by soloists from the Pacific Boychoir in a performance of four Bach cantatas composed for New Year's celebrations in Leipzig. Jan. 19, 8 p.m., St. Stephen's Church, Belvedere; Jan. 20, 8 p.m., First Congregational Church, Berkeley; Jan. 21, 8 p.m. St. Mark's Lutheran Church, San Francisco; Jan. 22, 8 p.m., Davis Community Church, Davis; (415) 621-7900, www.americanbach.org. (M.B.)

Berkeley Symphony: Hold On
George Thomson, the redoubtable associate conductor of the Berkeley Symphony, steps into the spotlight with a juicy concert mixing 20th century (and earlier) classics with a West Coast premiere. Stravinsky's Concertino for 12 Instruments shares the program with some of Matthew Locke's 17th century incidental music for The Tempest. Olly Wilson's Symphony No. 3, Hold On, commissioned by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, makes its West Coast debut. (It grows from the African-American spiritual tradition). Margot Schwartz is the soloist for Sibelius's moody and virtuosic Violin Concerto. Jan. 13, 8 p.m., Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, $39-$56, (510) 841-2800, www.berkeleysymphony.org. (L.H.)

Kurt Masur and Sarah Chang
Kurt Masur, known for his interpretations of the German Romantics, conducts the San Francisco Symphony in a program of Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3 "Scottish," Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1, and Strauss' Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks. Masur is joined by violinist Sarah Chang who will sign CDs after three of the performances. (Laura Stanfield Prichard, former assistant conductor of the S.F. Symphony Chorus, returns to the Bay Area to give the preconcert lectures one hour before the concerts.) Jan. 10-13, 8 p.m.; Jan 14, 2 p.m., Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, $25-$110 (415) 864-6000, www.sfsymphony.org. (C.G.)

Symphony Silicon Valley
Symphony Silicon Valley kicks off its fifth season with bluegrass fiddle champion (and jazz and classical violin master) Mark O'Connor. His own Old Brass fiddle concerto shares the program with Beethoven's "Lenore" Overture No. 3 and Dvorak's Symphony No. 7 in a concert conducted by Joseph Silverstein. Jan. 18-20, times vary, California Theatre, San Jose, $34-$76 (408) 286-2600, www.symphonysiliconvalley.org. (C.G.)