The 62nd Annual L.A. COUNTY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION Returns for Festive In-Person Multicultural Performances to Celebrate the Season
Press Contact
Chelsea Grosbeck
cgrosbeck@pmgsocal.org
747.201.5202
pbssocal.org/holidays and kcet.org/holidays
Los Angeles, Calif. – Dec. 7, 2021 – PBS SoCal and KCET, Southern California's primary PBS stations, and the home for award-winning public media productions, announced today a variety of local and national performances providing viewers of all ages an opportunity to come together over the holiday season. Headlining the lineup is the return of the L.A. COUNTY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION to The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to celebrate its 62nd anniversary with a free, live in-person holiday spectacular. A local tradition since 1959, this year’s three-hour celebration presents music and dance performances from more than 20 L.A.-based artists who showcase the diverse talents of L.A. County. The event will be broadcast and streamed LIVE on PBS SoCal on Fri., Dec. 24 from 3-6 p.m. with encores on Fri., Dec. 24 from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. on PBS SoCal and on Sat., Dec. 25 from 6-9 p.m. on KCET. The program will also be available online at pbssocal.org/holidaycelebration.
The 62nd annual L.A. COUNTY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION three-hour seasonal music and dance spectacular will be hosted by internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano and Emmy® Award winning television host Suzanna Guzmán as well as actor Brian White (Monogamy, Ambitions, Bronx SIU, Ray Donovan). The show features more than 20 music ensembles, choirs and dance companies from the many neighborhoods and cultures of Los Angeles County. A production of The Music Center and PBS SoCal in association with CDK Productions, the Emmy® Award-winning holiday show honors the dynamic, rich cultures of the area. This year’s lineup features many L.A.-based artists and community groups who will showcase their talent, artistry and traditions including the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, gospel singers Lorenzo Johnson & Praizum, Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy, klezmer band Mostly Kosher and two-time GRAMMY® award-winning Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea. Some of this year’s newcomers include Dembrebrah West African Drum and Dance as well as cellist Adam Mandela Walden. Continuing the commitment to keeping artists and the public safe, the event will adhere to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health guidelines requiring all persons admitted have proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours. All audience members must wear a mask at all times while indoors. For information about attending the live event, please visit holidaycelebration.org
Another regional Christmas concert event, REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY! A CONCORDIA CHRISTMAS returns to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and the campus of Concordia University Irvine to perform festive carols and Christmas favorites, old and new. The annual tradition will feature 200 students from eight vocal and instrumental performing ensembles under the masterful direction of Dr. Michael Busch and Dr. Jeff Held. The event will premiere on Sun., December 19 at 6 p.m. on PBS SoCal with encores on Mon., Dec. 20 at 9 p.m. and Tues., Dec., 21 at 12 a.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., Dec. 25 at 4 p.m. on KCET.
A PBS tradition for two decades now, viewers can look forward to 20 YEARS OF CHRISTMAS WIITH THE TABERNACLE CHOIR, a two-hour holiday special hosted by Tony® Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell (Kiss Me Kate, Ragtime). A former guest artist with the Choir, Mitchell returns to remember and relive twenty years of inspiring Christmas concerts that feature performances over the years by more than 40 world-renowned guest artists and excerpts from more than 60 songs, carols and stories to celebrate the season on Mon., Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal.
Additional holiday concert specials, will air as follows on PBS SoCal and KCET (*subject to change):
IL VOLO: TRIBUTE TO ENNIO MORRICONE – Wed., Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. on KCET and Sat., Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Join the trio in the beautiful city of Verona as they pay tribute to the legendary Italian film composer, Ennio Morricone. Filmed in 2021 at the Arena Di Verona, the program showcases arrangements from the Oscar®-winning composer and favorites from Il Volo's albums.
LIVE FROM BRADLEY SYMPHONY CENTER: MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – Fri., Dec. 17 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., Dec. 22 at 10 p.m. on KCET
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra celebrates its new season with the opening of a restored city landmark, Bradley Symphony Center. Under the baton of Ken-David Masur, with special guest pianist Aaron Diehl, the orchestra will perform works by Ellington, Gershwin and Stravinsky, along with a new piece by Eric Nathan commemorating the grand opening of the Center.
REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY! A CONCORDIA CHRISTMAS – Sun., Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., Dec. 25 at 4 p.m. on KCET
Concordia’s critically-acclaimed choirs, handbells and orchestra share glad tidings of great joy. This year’s theme, “Repeat the Sounding Joy!” showcases more than 200 performers from eight vocal and instrumental performing ensembles under the masterful direction of Dr. Michael Busch and Dr. Jeff Held.
CHRISTMAS AT BELMONT – Mon., Dec. 20 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., Dec. 25 at 3 p.m. on KCET
Recorded in Belmont's Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, the show includes holiday favorites and songs from country/gospel singer Josh Turner's new Christmas album and Belmont University students.
GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET: “New Year’s Eve Gala” – Fri., Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Celebrate the new year with Met stars Angel Blue, Pretty Yende, Javier Camarena and Matthew Polenzani performing arias, duets and ensembles and more from the Parktheater in Augsburg, Germany.
For more details about each show and a full list of holiday programming on KCET and PBS SoCal please go to pbssocal.org/holidays and kcet.org/holidays
Join the conversation on social media using #KCET and #PBSSoCal
About KCET
KCET is part of the donor-supported community institution, the Public Media Group of Southern California, which was formed by the merger of PBS SoCal and KCETLink Media Group. As one of Southern California’s two flagship PBS stations, KCET is on-air, online as well as in the community, and plays a vital role in the cultural enrichment of Southern California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. Throughout its 55-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions and its website, kcet.org. For additional information about KCET’s original productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org. KCET Originals and PBS programming are available to stream on the FREE PBS App on iOS and Android devices, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, and Chromecast. KCET is also available to watch live on YouTube TV.
About PBS SoCal
PBS SoCal is a donor-supported community institution that is a part of Public Media Group of Southern California, the flagship PBS station formed by the merger of PBS SoCal and KCETLink Media Group. PBS SoCal delivers content and experiences that inspire, inform and entertain – over the air, online, in the community and in the classroom. We offer the full slate of beloved PBS programs including MASTERPIECE, NOVA, PBS NewsHour, FRONTLINE, Independent Lens, a broad library of documentary films including works from Ken Burns; and educational PBS KIDS programs including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Curious George. PBS programming is available to stream on the FREE PBS App on iOS and Android devices, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, and Chromecast. PBS SoCal is also available to watch live on YouTube TV.
