A brilliant rainbow directed fans of the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra to their season end party on Saturday night. Reflected in the puddles lingering from the rainy day, the rainbow lent a hopeful sparkle to the gala at the Temporary Contemporary Gallery at 1616 Del Paso Blvd. Inside, aficionados of choral music enjoyed the company of singers, musicians and fellow music lovers. Partygoers strolled amid the captivating art installations and helped themselves to imaginative refreshments and an assortment of wines. A pianist played softly near the speaker’s podium, and the hum of happy conversation rose above the clink of stemware. Recordings were available for sale, including SC

The Christmas season abounds in music. From the unrelenting commercials set to “All I Want for Christmas Is You” to the ubiquitous mall soundtracks of everyone from Elvis and Johnny Mathis to Beyoncé and Jay-Z warbling about sleigh rides and winter wonderlands, it’s hard to escape seasonal music at its most crass and annoying. Yet for all the songs rendered in Muzak style, there is another form of music that exists to uplift the soul, magnify the solemnity and glory of the season, and bring pure joy to the heart. Schola Cantorum (or “School for Church Music”) is the mixed voice choir of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. For 18 years, they have been presenting a Christmas concert in their lov