By Jim Coleman
The Southern Utah Heritage Choir is thrilled to welcome renowned guest artists Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four for their annual Christmas concerts, “Long Ago in Bethlehem.” Three performances will be held in the Cox Performing Arts Center: Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased from the DSU Box Office, online at heritagechoir.org, or from any choir member.
Under the direction of principal conductor Dr. Ken Peterson, artistic director and pianist Dr. Nancy Allred, and organist Karen Lee, the choir is excited to perform several beloved Christmas carols including “The First Noel,” “Long Ago in Bethlehem,” “Silent Night,” “See Amid the Winter’s Snow,” and “Breath of Heaven” with soprano soloist Lizzy Peterson.
Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four will perform a variety of stunning Christmas arrangements by celebrated composer Kurt Bestor: “We Three Kings,” “Ding Dong Merrily on High,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Christmas Concerto,” “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “Gesu Bambino,” “Patapan,” and “Carol of the Bells,” to name a few. They will also collaborate with the choir for several Christmas selections.
Jenny Oaks Baker is a Grammy-nominated, Billboard No. 1 performer and recording artist. She received her master’s degree in from the renowned Juilliard School in New York City and her bachelor’s degree in violin performance from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
She has performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, theLincoln Center, Strathmore Hall, and the Library of Congress and as a guest soloist with the National Symphony, Jerusalem Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Utah Symphony, and the internationally acclaimed Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Over the years, Jenny has collaborated with such luminaries as Gladys Knight, Marvin Hamlisch, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Jenny has released fourteen studio albums since 1998. They have sold nearly half a million copies and consistently chart on Billboard. Jenny’s emotionally stirring music has also been featured on the soundtracks of many films, and her popular music videos can be viewed on her YouTube Channel. Jenny, her husband Matthew, and their four children (Family Four) reside in Salt Lake City.
Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four have performed throughout the United States, including performances in Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, the Stevens Performing Arts Center in Idaho, on the Hour of Power TV Show broadcast worldwide from California, for Ambassador’s Wives at the Congressional Club in Washington DC, for the Music Educator’s Rally at the Utah state capital, for the Washington DC Temple Festival of Lights, and for the World Congress of Families IX. They have also performed the National Anthem for the Days of Forty-Seven Rodeo and a Jazz Basketball Game at the Vivint Smart Home Arena and performed with The Millennial Choirs and Orchestra and The Lyceum Philharmonic. Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four are also featured on the CD “My Home Can Be A Holy Place” and on a Mormon Channel music video, performing “Love Is Spoken Here.” In the summer of 2017 Jenny & Family Four are performing concerts throughout Austria, Taiwan and Japan. Their debut CD was released in the fall of 2017.
Laura is 15 and plays the violin and percussion. Hannah is 14 and plays the piano. Sarah is 12 and plays the cello. Matthew is 10 and plays the classical and electric guitar. Jenny and her children have been performing together as a family since each child started playing their instruments when they were three and four years old.
The Heritage Choir invites the community to enjoy this spectacular evening of Christmas music Dec. 15 and 16. Upcoming performances include a spring concert March 23 with guests artists Jordan and Kaitlynn Kleinman Bluth and the Southwest Choral Festival April 14 with distinguished conductor Dr. Craig Jessop.
More information is available by emailing jimc@erabrokers.com.
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