JOYFUL NOISE: GOSPEL CHRISTMAS to Return to the Holland Center, 12/6

Joyful Noise: A Gospel Christmas featuring Salem Baptist Church returns to the Holland Performing Arts Center this December. Omaha Performing Arts in collaboration with Salem Baptist Church presents two performances of this holiday tradition on December 6 at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the acoustically-renowned Kiewit Concert Hall of the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St.

Joyful Noise features the harmonious sounds of Omaha's nationally-recognized and Grammy-nominated Salem Baptist Church choir, which has more than 70 members, along with special guests Tobbi & Tommi, Pamela Westbrook, Dante Hall, and Chad and Elaine Stoner. Following the theme "The Light," Joyful Noise features an upbeat Christmas celebration blending classics and new music, drama and choreographed dance. Led by senior pastor Rev. Dr. Selwyn Q. Bachus and Minister of Music Ananias Montague, the best of the church's fine arts programs will be showcased at the concerts.

Bachus said, "We're thankful to Omaha Performing Arts for this momentous partnership. This partnership provides a platform for continued arts education as well as the opportunity to expose even more residents to the state-of-the-art Holland facility."

"We've enjoyed an on-going relationship with Salem Baptist Church that has resulted in incredible opportunities for the Omaha community," said Kendra Whitlock Ingram, Vice President of Programming and Education. "One of our first collaborations was a multigenerational workshop at the church led by Ronald K. Brown's Evidence Dance Company." The partnership between Salem Baptist Church and Omaha Performing Arts often benefits young artists. Ingram cited two recent examples: "Omaha Performing Arts was able to provide classroom space at the Holland Center for the church's Music and Worship Ministry summer camp this year, and in October, Nebraska High School Theatre Awards students had the opportunity to perform with members of the church's choir at the Celebrate 10 Concert."

Montague added, "Salem is extremely excited that Omaha Performing Arts reached out to us. This partnership has allowed our community to have access to a wide variety of diverse fine arts educational events."

Special guests at Joyful Noise come from Omaha, Indiana, and Illinois. Tobbi & Tommi are sisters from East St. Louis, Ill., who have sung on the Grammy Awards (2005), BET's 106 & Gospel (2009), Stellar Awards (2006, 2008, 2010), Dove Awards (2010), TBN (2010) and other major television networks. Westbrook, known as the "Sweetheart of Indianapolis," is a powerhouse singer who has shared the stage with Ricky Dillard, Niyoki, Lamar Campbell, Donald Lawrence, Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin and Vashawn Mitchell. Hall, a vocalist from Chicago, has worked with R. Kelly, Bebe and Cece Winans, Donald Lawrence, Yolanda Adams, Michael McDonald and Dave Hollister. Chad Stoner and his wife, Elaine, are well known gospel and jazz artists in the Omaha metro.

Omaha Performing Arts has partnered with ConAgra Foods for ConAgra Foods' Shine the Light on Hunger program November 1 through December 31, 2015. Patrons are encouraged to bring canned food and other non-perishable items when they attend a performance at the Holland Center or Orpheum Theater. All donations collected will support the Food Bank for the Heartland.