UNCSA Presents: December performance highlights

The UNCSA 2025-26 performance season, “UNCSA Presents,” continues this December with a diverse array of performances from the schools of Filmmaking and Music. Highlights include “Animapalooza,” a celebration of animated storytelling; the UNCSA Cantata Singers Holiday Concert at Home Moravian Church; and the Guitar Studios in Recital.

Tickets to most events are $25 for adults and $20 for non-UNCSA students with a valid ID, but some events are free. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 336-721-1945.

In a dark room, a cartoon man shines a lamp, casting light on his surroundings.

Henry, Ophelia, and a shadow musician in "Sonata" / Photo: UNCSA

Animapalooza – Dec. 5

The School of Filmmaking will present the inaugural “Animapalooza,” a new annual Panorama screening that celebrates animated and visual effects storytelling. The event highlights standout short films from the animation and visual effects (VFX) program, featuring work by current students as well as award-winning alumni who are now contributing to the industry.

“Animapalooza” will showcase a wide range of techniques, including 2D and 3D animation, VFX, digital works, hand-drawn animation and stop-motion. Each film reflects the creativity, technical excellence and narrative innovation that define the School of Filmmaking’s nationally recognized program.

Audiences of all ages will experience a diverse collection of visual styles, imaginative worlds and emotionally resonant stories that honor visual storytelling at its highest achievement.

The screening will take place on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. in ACE Main Theatre, located on the UNCSA campus at 1533 South Main St.

A choir performing under the direction of a choir leader, with members engaged in singing together

UNCSA Cantata Singers / Photo: Wayne Reich

UNCSA Cantata Singers Holiday Concert – Dec. 7

The UNCSA Cantata Singers will continue the season of celebration with their annual holiday concert at Home Moravian Church. Led by conductor James Allbritten, the performance has become a longstanding Winston-Salem tradition and reflects more than a decade of collaboration among the UNCSA School of Music, the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute and the church’s “Music at Home” concert series.

The ensemble, comprising voice and opera students, will be joined by an orchestra of local professional musicians, including UNCSA faculty and alumni. The program is designed to highlight both classical masterworks and the festive spirit of the season.

The first half of the concert will feature J.S. Bach’s Cantata BWV 40, “Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes,” and Vivaldi’s “Gloria.” Bach’s work, written for the second day after Christmas, explores the significance of Christ’s birth and mission. Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” originally composed for young musicians at a Venetian orphanage, remains a cornerstone of the choral repertoire for its joyful and expressive qualities.

The second half of the program, titled “Of Poems and Carols,” will present seasonal music combined with readings of poetry and prose that honor the warmth and wonder of the holidays. UNCSA Chancellor Brian Colewill appear as special guest reader, continuing a concert tradition that includes the well-known exchange inspired by Virginia O’Hanlon’s question, “Please tell me the truth, is there really a Santa Claus?”

The concert will take place on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. at Home Moravian Church, 529 S. Church St., Winston-Salem, Admission is free and open to the public.

UNCSA Guitar Studios in Recital – Dec. 7

Guitar students from the School of Music will take the stage for the UNCSA Guitar Studios in Recital, an engaging evening that highlights a dynamic mix of solo and ensemble performances. Featuring a broad range of repertoire and artistic approaches, the program offers audiences an opportunity to experience the expressive power and versatility of the classical guitar.

Led by faculty members Joseph Pecoraro and Luke Payne, the recital reflects the collaborative spirit and technical excellence of the UNCSA Guitar Studios, a program known for cultivating both artistry and innovation in performance.

The concert will take place on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Watson Hall, located on the UNCSA campus at 1533 South Main St.

Tickets and information about additional “UNCSA Presents” performances can be found at uncsa.edu/performances.

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November 19, 2025