Free at the Kimmel Series Celebrates Kimmel Center's 10th Anniversary

The Kimmel Center turns 10 this December, and to make it a true celebratory event, the Free at the Kimmel Series provides a wide range of FREE family-friendly concerts, December 17 to January 1, inviting all to experience the diversity of offerings with local and national artists performing on Commonwealth Plaza Stage.

Just in time for the holiday season, the annual TubaChristmas Celebration (Dec. 17) offers double the fun with two performances of up to 100 local tuba players gathering, rehearsing, and performing holiday classics, all in the same day! Details follow below on how local tuba players may join in on the community tradition. Additional Free at the Kimmel holiday offerings include: a performance of Klezmer music by The Fabulous Shpielkehs (Dec. 23), Dramatic Readings of Holiday Literature (Dec. 24), and the annual New Year’s Day Celebration (Jan. 1).

Wolfgang Puck is also celebrating the Kimmel Center’s 10th Anniversary at the PECO café with exciting new holiday treats: colorful Peppermint Martinis and Snowflake Martinis for adults; and, Pigs in a Blanket – miniature hot dogs wrapped in homemade puffed pastries – as well as Candy Cane Cocoa, hot chocolate with bits of real peppermint candy for younger audiences.

Visit the Free at the Kimmel Calendar of Events for up to date information on additional artists. Program details follows below.

Choral Celebration
Featuring performances by A Cappella Pops and the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School
Commonwealth Plaza
Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 5:30pm

A Cappella Pops is a high-energy chorus of men and women performing a wide variety of jazz, folk, Broadway. This contemporary blend of voices directed by Jan Muck, will be performing a mix of pops on holiday repertoire. Following is a choral set by students from the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School. PPACS was the first Kindergarten through Eighth performing arts grade school of it's kind linking education and the arts when it opened it's doors in 2000. Their mission is to not only teach students how to perform on stage but how to perform in life!

The Ukuladies
PNC Grow Up Great Program
Commonwealth Plaza
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 11am

The Ukuladies are a perpetually-touring, twin-sister, aunt, and one tap-dancing-cousin act from Regina, Canada with a lust for life and its idle curiosities. Ukuladies are not simply a musical act—they're a full-scale entertainment featuring singing, dancing, acting and comedy. Their playful tunes and melodies will have you tapping your feet as they utilize everything from fiddles and spoons, to coconuts and a toy piano, and, of course, an impressive array of ukuleles in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Visit theukuladies.com

The Kimmel Center is the recipient of partnership funding through the nationally recognized PNC "Grow Up Great" initiative, a ten-year, $100 million investment in preparing children for success in school and life. Funding gives support to the Kimmel Center's early childhood program "Bop and Swing", an arts program designed to promote literacy development and an appreciation for American culture.

TubaChristmas Celebration
Commonwealth Plaza
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 1:30pm and 5:30pm

Toot your own horn at the annual TUBACHRISTMAS Celebration in the Kimmel Center's Commonwealth Plaza, as part of the Kimmel Center's 10th Anniversary. The holidays come to life as more than 100 regional tuba, sousaphone and euphonium players join together to perform holiday classics free to the public and for all ages.

This year we'll be hosting two TUBACHRISTMAS Performances in one day. Participation in TUBACHRISTMAS is limited to the first 100 performers per performance. Tuba, euphonium, and sousaphone players interested in playing must RSVP via email to Jay Krush at krushtuba@gmail.com. Please indicate if you plan to register for Concert #1 or Concert #2 in your RSVP email. After 100 responses, players will be placed on a waiting list. There is a $5 registration fee for performers. Music is available for purchase at the event for performers who may need it, however we encourage musicians to bring their own music stand if possible.

The schedule for performers is as follows:

Concert #1
9am - 11am: Registration in Innovation Studio
11am - 1pm: Rehearsal in Innovation Studio
1:30pm - 2:30pm: Tuba Christmas Performance in The Commonwealth Plaza

Concert #2
2pm - 3pm: Registration in Innovation Studio
3pm - 5pm: Rehearsal in Innovation Studio
5:30pm - 6:30pm: Tuba Christmas Performance in The Commonwealth Plaza

Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble Annual Winter Concert
Commonwealth Plaza
Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 5:30pm

The Kimmel Center's Creative Music Program celebrates the Center's 10th Anniversary with a special program highlighting student musicians between the ages of 11 and 17 from our Red, Blue and Magenta ensembles. For this anniversary edition of their annual December concert the students are proud to debut three new compositions. These pieces were composed entirely by the members of each ensemble as part of a series of collective composition classes. In addition, the ensembles will perform six original compositions written by Sumi Tanooka, Steve Tirpak, Steve Coleman, and Program Director Anthony Tidd.

The Fabulous Shpielkehs
Commonwealth Plaza
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 5:30pm

The Fabulous Shpielkehs are some Philadelphia's finest musicians dedicated to continuing and furthering the centuries-old tradition of Klezmer music. The Group lead by drummer Elaine Hoffman Watts and trumpeter Susan Watts descendants of the Hoffman family musical dynasty are third and fourth generation klezmorim (musicians) internationally celebrated

Dramatic Readings from Holiday Literature
Commonwealth Plaza
Saturday, December 24, 2011 at 11am

Come down to the Kimmel Center on Christmas Eve and here readings of holiday classics such as The Night Before Christmas, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and others.

Sing in the New Year!
Commonwealth Plaza
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 5:30pm

Soprano Elizabeth Racheva and oboist Amy Miller perform solo and ensemble selections by Vaughan Williams, Handel, Bach, Philadelphia's own Andrea Clearfield, traditional favorites, and more.

New Year's Day Celebration!
Commonwealth Plaza
Sunday, January 1, 2012, 10am to 6pm

Ring in the New Year with Free at the Kimmel family-friendly entertainment on the Kimmel Center’s Plaza stage. Post a comment on the Resolution Wall and enjoy stilt walkers, balloon artists, face-painting, and crafts for kids. Featuring performances by Steve Pullara & His Cool Beans Band, Broadway Dreams Foundation, Vanessa Trien, and Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble.

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