INTERVIEW: Nothing can stop the annual ‘L.A. County Holiday Celebration,’ not even COVID-19
Photo: The Rangoli Dance Company performs at the 61st annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration. Photo courtesy of The Music Center / Provided by press rep with permission.
This year has been a tough one for Los Angeles County. The area in and around the city has experienced record cases of COVID-19 infections, almost on a regular basis, and it has been labeled with the unfortunate moniker of being an “epicenter” in the global fight against the deadly virus. With new safety protocols in place, the arts scene has been disrupted severely, with in-person performances at theaters and other venues screeching to a halt in mid-March.
Hopefully 2021 promises some better news, and in the interim, the folks at PBS SoCal, KCET and The Music Center are not letting these final days of the year be a sad holiday season. Their annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration will continue this year — its 61st! — with only a few modifications. The broadcast is set for Thursday, Dec. 24 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal. Viewers can also enjoy encore presentations on KCET Friday, Dec. 25 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. or PBS SoCal 2 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. All times are PST.
Audiences can pop the Christmas cookies into the oven, light the room with the glow of some holiday candles and tune in for some musical entertainment — perhaps letting this historic year fade into the background for a few hours.
“I’m so much looking forward to it,” said Josephine Ramirez, executive vice president of TMC Arts. “This one is really special. They’re all special every year, but I’m really looking forward to this one.”
This year’s program will feature musical artists who have performed in years past, while other acts will be brand new to audience members. There is an emphasis on diversity and showcasing the many different artistic offerings of Los Angeles County, one of the world’s best capitals for vibrant arts.
“We have a lot of the folks that have performed in years before,” Ramirez said. “We also have a substantial number of performers that are making their debut with us, and in addition, we have these mini documentaries that will go along with the broadcast that are adding a new dimension this year that adds this wonderful, personal dimension to the lives of the artists. And we think people are really going to enjoy getting to know them through those stories as well as the performances.”
Some of the returning favorites on the telecast will be the Daniel Ho Trio and the Hawaiian performing group Hālau Hula Keali’i o Nālani. The new element to their concert performance will be special guest Tia Carrere, the accomplished actor.
“They always do a really beautiful mix of music and dance and song that is very reflective of the whole gist of the holiday celebration, which is this beautiful multi-generational, multicultural show of traditions that we have that reflect L.A. County,” Ramirez said about the performers. “That’s one of the ones that just every year is this big show and beautiful.”
As far as new acts, Ramirez is particularly excited to showcase the American Youth Symphony, who will be performing on the L.A. County Holiday Celebration for the first time. Also, audiences should be on the look out for French-Chinese chanteuse Jessica Fichot, who will be bringing some steampunk style to her selection.
Others to enjoy: the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, Sound of China Guzheng Ensemble, Noteable, Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca, the Rangoli Dance Company, and Tres Souls, among others.
“I love the name of this group, Sean Oliu and the Coastline Cowboys,” she said about another singer. “One of the groups that’s returning this year who have been working with us a lot is the Pacifico Dance Company, a gorgeous folklorico dance troupe; as well as a gospel choir called Praizum that’s led by Lorenzo Johnson; as well as a group you may have seen before, they have been on the Holiday Celebration several times before, called Infinite Flow Dance, a professional company of dancers with and without disabilities. They use dance as a catalyst to inspire inclusivity.”
The finale for the L.A. County Holiday Celebration is typically a performance of “Silent Night,” and that will continue this year, but with some slight changes. For 2020, they will make this final song a virtual collaborative performance, featuring the Southern California Brass Consortium and a community choir that’s comprised of different singers from this year’s roster of performers.
Audiences can expect the pre-taped performances to take place at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Jerry Ross Plaza. Plus, there will be footage outside Walt Disney Concert Hall, the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
“We also get to show off some places in our beautiful Los Angeles County,” Ramirez said. “One of the segments is going to be at the Korean Bell of Friendship in San Pedro, and we also have a shoot at Angel’s Point in Elysian Park. They became beautiful backdrops to those performances, so we’re trying to show that we’re L.A. County — and the Music Center represents the best of all of that.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The L.A. County Holiday Celebration, presented by The Music Center, PBS SoCal and KCET, will broadcast Thursday, Dec. 24 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal. Encore presentation swill take place Friday, Dec. 25 from noon to 3 p.m. on KCET and from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal 2. All times are PST. Click here for more information.
