Holiday Tings' at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Holiday Tings is the third installation of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington's annual Holiday Sing & Swing Trilogy event created by the organization's Regional Artistic Director and award-winning composer Tony Small. This year's world-premiere will debut holiday classics with a journey across the African and Latin American Diaspora. The concert integrates classical works from a postmodern arrangement of JS Bach's Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring by The 4-Cellists to everyones favorite Holiday carols with a Caribbean twist. Each year, the initiative affords underserved youth an opportunity to perform alongside renowned artists on one of the world's most prestigious stages and to this year's live-streamed audience.

The concert will be hosted by Broadway Veteran Raymond Bokhour (most known for his Broadway lead role in Chicago) and co-hosted by DC's own Helen Hayes award winning DeCarlos Raspberry. A Virtual Clubhouse Youth Choir will perform alongside world-class artists featuring: Steel Pan Artists Victor Provost (Voted DC's top Jazz Artist), Stellar award-winning Gospel Artist Maurette Brown Clark, live-streamed artists from 4 Islands, the 60 minutes featured piano prodigy Matthew Whitaker, DC's own young jazz pianist Jose Andre, Hanukah traditions by Cantor Lisa Levine all accompanied by a virtual 21-piece chamber orchestra and band in a Merengue to Reggae expos. Amazing classical performances by international award winning Juilliard graduates violinist Machiko Ozawa and violist Jordan Bak, or holiday classics from The Lyric Brass Quintet will contrast appearances by the Motown sounds of Joe Coleman (former lead vocalist from the Platters), Jazz Saxophonist Corinthia Cromwell and the Opera duo of Robert Feng and Taylor-Alexis.

A featured showcase is a Taste of Broadway that includes former Boys & Girls Club kids who have made their Broadway debuts the past couple years in The Book of Mormon, Disney's Little Mermaid, Lion King or Aladdin Musicals and Julia Estrada (from the Hamilton Broadway Tour) with the renowned Children's Chorus of Washington. This year's Holiday family/community carolers will come from the new Clubhouse @ your-house virtual platform inviting all viewers and families to sing-along. A special tribute chronicling the Denyce Graves story will present the organization's first Arts Ambassador Alum award highlighting the Diva's journey From the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington to the MET.

Tony Small, is the Regional Artistic Director: www.tonysmall.org