Christmas Eve cultural show returns

LOS ANGELES - The 52nd annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration, featuring dozens of performers from throughout the Southland, will take place Dec. 24 from 3-6 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.Admission to the concert is free. The event will also be televised live on KCET. The annual Christmas Eve concert is a Los Angeles County tradition dating back to 1964. The program honors the spirit of many cultures and holiday traditions through music, song and dance. Artists scheduled to perform this year include: ADAAWE, an all-women's African music ensemble, will perform liturgical Afro-Cuban drumming and song Agape Love Ensemble will perform "Love is the Light" and "O Holy Night" The Bricks, comprised of young musicians dedicated to making music that delivers positive social messages, will perform classic holiday selections Charles Dickens Carolers, a 24-person a cappela choir dressed in festive attire, will present classic Christmas repertoire City of Angeles Children's Community Chorus will premier on the Holiday Celebration with classic holiday sons 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 Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles will return to this year's program with holiday music Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company will perform a traditional dance from the Mexican state of Durango Harmonic Bronze Handbell Ensemble, a 20-person music ensemble of 11- to 18-year-olds from the Antelope Valley, will perform a festive rendition of "Hava Nagila" Jazz Tap Ensemble will perform an upbeat holiday-inspired tap dance that interacts with an ensemble of live jazz musicians Kwan Gyu Lim Dance Company will perform a modern interpretation of the traditional Korean fan dance La Santa Cecilia will premiere on this year's program with danceable holiday selections fusing contemporary and traditional Latin and South American sounds 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" Mariachi Sol del Mexico will perform classic mariachi holiday favorites Mt. Rubidoux Seventh Day Adventist Church Choir, winner of the People's Choice Award for Best Large Choir and overall first place in the L.A. Region How Sweet the Sound Choir Competition Palmdale High School Choral Union, a 40-person chorus from the Antelope Valley, will present a spiritual hymn and a swing-style holiday song Prime Note Ensemble, an all-male Filipino choir, will perform in English and Tagalog Salvation Army Tabernacle Children's Chorus, the largest and youngest choir on the program, is known for their "choralography" and light-hearted holiday songs The Shpil will perform a medley of classic Hanukkah songs in their Klezmer style Trumpetology will premiere on the Holiday Celebration with a brass-centered jazz interpretation of "What Child is This" Versa-Style Dance Company, a hip-hop ensemble representing the diversity of Los Angeles 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 with holiday repertoire. For more information, go to holidaycelebration.org.

********** Published: November 17, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 31