LA County Holiday Celebration Dec. 24

Bring the whole family to L.A.'s biggest Emmy-nominated holiday show, the 52nd Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration Dec. 24 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. More than 20 choirs, music ensembles and dance companies from the many neighborhoods and cultures of L.A. celebrate the season during this free three-hour extravaganza. Even the parking under the Music Center is free! See it live from 3-6 pm at the Music Center downtown. Watch it live on KCET from 3-6, and again from 8-11 pm. Hear it live on 90.7 FM KPFK. Stream it live at www.kcet.org. The L.A. Holiday Celebration is a gift to the community from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Highlights of this year’s show include:



Liturgical Afro-Cuban drumming and song from ADAAWE, an all-women’s African music ensemble

Traditional dance from the Mexican state of Durango from the Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company

The Jazz Tap Ensemble with a holiday-inspired tap dance and an ensemble of live jazz musicians
A modern interpretation of the traditional Korean fan dance from Kwan Gyu Lim Dance Company

Classic Hanukkah songs – Klezmer style – with The Shpil

Prime Note Ensemble, an all-male Filipino choir singing in English and Tagalog

GRAMMY® nominated Lisa Haley and the Zydekats celebrate the holidays Americana/Cajun/Zydeco style

Current Latin GRAMMY® award nominee La Santa Cecilia with a holiday hybrid of Latin culture, rock and world music

Mandrill, one of Funk and R&B’s most progressive bands and an important pioneer on the world music scene, will perform their signature 1970 hit “Peace and Love”

Holiday hip hop from Versa-Style Dance Company

Pop culture humorist and author Charles Phoenix returns as HC’s holiday reporter, hosting five videos featuring holiday traditions celebrated in L.A. County
.

WHEN:
Saturday, December 24, 2011 from 3 pm to 6 pm


Doors open at 2:30 pm
Patrons may come and go throughout the three hour performance
Reservations for tickets to the show or parking are not necessary
Those who can't make it to the Music Center can watch the live broadcast from 3 pm-6 pm on KCET, stream it at www.kcet.org, or listen live at 90.7 FM KPFK. The KCET broadcast repeats again from 8 pm-11 pm

WHO:

24 performing artists (scroll down for full list) from across L.A. County
Sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission

WHERE:
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center
135 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles 90012

HOW:
Information hotline: (213) 972-3099 or www.HolidayCelebration.org

ADMISSION:
FREE

PARKING:
FREE in the Music Center parking garage

OTHER:
Since 1964, the Arts Commission has produced a holiday celebration in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center every year on December 24th. The program honors the spirit of many cultures and holiday traditions through music, song and dance.

The L.A. County Holiday Celebration is a gift to the community from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Artists performing in 52nd Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration:

ADAAWE, an all-women’s African music ensemble, will perform liturgical Afro-Cuban drumming and song – Click here to download a high resolution photo of ADAAWE.

Agape Love Ensemble, members of the Agape International Spiritual Center, will perform “Love is the Light” and “O Holy Night” – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Agape Love Ensemble.

The Bricks*, comprised of young musicians dedicated to making music that delivers positive social messages, will perform classic holiday selections – Click here to download a high resolution photo of The Bricks

Charles Dickens Carolers*, a 24-person a cappella choir dressed in festive attire, will present classic Christmas repertoire – Click here to download a high resolution photo of the Charles Dickens Carolers

City of Angels Children’s Community Chorus* will premiere on the Holiday Celebration with classic holiday repertoire – Click here to download a high resolution photo of City of Angels Chorus

Colburn School Choir, a 50-voice ensemble of the Colburn School of Performing Arts, will perform a Nigerian holiday folk song and a classic Christmas selection – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Colburn School Choir.

Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles will return to this year’s program with holiday repertoire – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Gay Men’s Chorus

Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company will perform a traditional dance from the Mexican state of Durango – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Grandeza Mexican Folk Ballet Ensemble

Harmonic Bronze Handbell Ensemble, a 20-person music ensemble of 11 to 18-year olds from Antelope Valley, will perform a festive rendition of “Hava Nagila” – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Harmonic Bronze Handbell Ensemble

Jazz Tap Ensemble will perform an upbeat holiday-inspired tap dance that interacts with an ensemble of live jazz musicians – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Jazz Tap Ensemble Chorus

Kwan Gyu Lim Dance Company* will perform a modern interpretation of the traditional Korean fan dance – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Kwan Gyu Lim Dance Co.

La Santa Cecilia* will premiere on this year’s program with dance-able holiday selections fusing contemporary and traditional Latin and South American sounds – Click here to download a high resolution photo of La Santa Cecilia

Lisa Haley and the Zydekats will return to this year’s program with a Zydeco-inspired holiday performance

Mandrill*, one of Funk and R&B’s most progressive bands and an important pioneer on the world music scene, will perform their signature 1970 hit “Peace and Love” – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Madrill

Mariachi Sol de Mexico will perform classic Mariachi holiday favorites – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Mariachi Sol de Mexico

Mt. Rubidoux Seventh Day Adventist Church Choir, winner of the People's Choice, Best Large Choir, and overall first place in the LA Region How Sweet The Sound Choir Competition, will perform gospel holiday selections

Palmdale High School Choral Union, a 40-person chorus from the Antelope Valley, will present a spiritual hymn and a swing-style holiday song – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Palmdale HS Choral Union

Prime Note Ensemble*, an all-male Filipino choir will perform in English and Tagalog – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Prime Note Ensemble

Salvation Army Tabernacle Children’s Chorus, the largest and youngest choir on the program, is known for their “choralography” and light-hearted holiday songs – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Salvation Army Tabernacle Children’s Chorus

The Shpil* will perform a medley of classic Hanukkah songs in their Klezmer style – Click here to download a high resolution photo of The Shpil
Trumpetology* will premiere on the Holiday Celebration with a brass-centered jazz interpretation of “What Child is This” – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Trumpetology

Versa-Style Dance Company*, a Hip Hop ensemble representing the diversity of Los Angeles – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Versa Style

Voices of Destiny*, a 45-member gospel chorus and national winner of the Verizon Wireless How Sweet the Sound Competition, will premiere with a spiritual holiday offering.

Young Angels Choir, a Korean-American youth choir, will return to Holiday Celebration with holiday repertoire – Click here to download a high resolution photo of Young Angel’s Choir

* indicates groups new to the Holiday Celebration this year.