A new recording of favorite Christmas music is available just in time for the start of the holiday season from the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. The Best of Festival of Carols: Volume One features music heard in recent seasons at Festival of Carols, the annual holiday performances featuring the 200-voice Symphonic Choir. The CD is $20 and is available at www.indychoir.org,on iTunes, or via phone order at (317) 940-9057.

“It was high time that the symphonic choir released a new holiday CD full of your favorite music,” says artistic director Eric Stark. “Everyone loves turning up the volume on their favorite songs, and likely singing along while hanging the decorations or writing Christmas cards.”

The new recording includes classic holiday songs such as “Joy to the World” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” as well as pop hits such as “Santa Baby,” “Believe” from “Polar Express” and “Somewhere in My Memory.” This recording follows other recent recording releases by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir including the complete, two-disc recording of Mendelssohn’s Elijah in 2011 and a holiday disc From East to West in 2006.

“We recognize that having a CD of holiday music available is a practical decision as well as an artistic one. With all of the holiday gatherings and staff parties we find ourselves attending, people are looking for a different host gift to give instead of wine or flowers,” says executive director Michael Pettry. “What better than buying a stack of 10 to use as host gifts and presentation items throughout the holidays?”

Tickets for the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir’s Festival of Carols performances are now on sale, following a sell-out run of three shows during both the 2012 and 2013 holiday seasons. Four performances welcome the holiday season at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in downtown Indianapolis at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 and the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21.

Tickets range from $20-$42 and may be purchased at indychoir.org or by calling the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir at (317) 940-9057 or the Palladium box office at (317) 843-3800. Student tickets are available for $15.

For performance details, audio preview links, photos and ticket information, visit indychoir.org.