The choir at Blessed Mother Teresa Parish led by Sheldon Lee will perform with guest vocalists and a 12-piece orchestra at the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass.

Local religious and cultural organizations are sending off 2014 in a flurry of free musical programs. Boston Baroque (BB), the Dorchester Historical Society (DHS), and neighborhood churches are among those welcoming locals to join them in ending the year on a high note:

At the Strand, highlights of Handel’s “Messiah”

The highest profile event is the return to the Strand of Boston Baroque, the first and the oldest continuing period instrument orchestra in North America. Last November BB, the three-time Grammy-nominated orchestra, marked its 40th anniversary at the Strand by presenting a free concert of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony featuring “Ode to Joy.”

On Sun., Dec. 14, at 2 p.m., the orchestra will be back with another classical blockbuster, highlights from Handel’s “Messiah” with its rousing “Hallelujah Chorus” in a 90-minute, festive program featuring the acclaimed BB ensemble, the BB Chorus with international soloists: soprano Sherezade Panthaki, mezzo-soprano Ann McMahon Quintero, tenor William Burden, and bass-baritone Dashon Burton. Admission is free but tickets are required for entry. See strandboston.com for reservations options, but Dot residents can probably just walk up to the box office before the show.

Dorchester Historical Society: Open House/ Holiday Party
Also on the 14th, at 2 p.m., the DHS hosts its annual Open House/Holiday party. According to DHS President Earl Taylor this year’s program will be simple and traditional.  “We’ll have a participatory reading of ‘The Night Before Christmas,’ which is fun for all ages.  The very talented, Dorchester-based pianist Bil Mooney-McCoy will play music of the season and will also accompany us for a carol sing, led by a few intrepid DHS board members who aren’t afraid to sing out….  As always, the 1806 William Clapp House will be decorated for the holidays, and we will offer a delicious spread of sweet and savory goodies for our guests to enjoy.  The Gift Shop offers Dorchester-themed items and books that make perfect holiday gifts.”

Churches Hosting Choirs
The Dot-based Boston City Singers bring together more than 100 of its young singers for its annual Dorchester Stars Concert: Music on Wednesdays Training Chorus, Cantare, Tour Choir, BCS Fellas, and World Rhythm Ensemble. The concert will be held on Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. at St. Ann’s Church.

The celebration ranges over many musical styles, including seasonal spirituals, a community carol sing, and the theme songs from “The Snowman” and “Home Alone.” The younger children will premiere “My Sister Thinks She’s Santa Claus,” which was written during a “meet the composer” visit in March by the New Zealand composer David Hamilton.  The singers will all come together at the end of the event to perform a few Jamaican carols with the World Rhythm Ensemble.

The full Choir of Men and Boys of Ashmont’s All Saints will sing its traditional “A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols” twice this year.  First at 7 p.m., at St. Mary of the Hills, Milton, on Saturday the 20th, and a second time, the next afternoon at 4 o’clock at All Saints Church.

Finally, Blessed Mother Teresa Parish (800 Columbia Road) will continue its orchestra-augmented Christmas tradition. Instead of playing on Messiah Sunday at the beginning of Advent, Music Director Sheldon Lee has moved the choir with guest vocalists and the 12-piece guest orchestra to the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass.