Holiday concert goes virtual with lineup of all-star alumni performers

Rockefeller Arts Center will continue its longstanding tradition of presenting a Christmas pops concert this December, albeit in new format.

The “Virtual Alumni Christmas Pops Concert” will make its debut online on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m., and is free, via Rockefeller’s YouTube channel. The concert will feature a lineup of 15 all-star alumni performers, many of whom performed in September 2019 as part of Rockefeller’s “50th Anniversary Gala Pops Concert.”

With COVID-19 restrictions keeping live events on hold in New York state, Rockefeller Director Jefferson Westwood began making plans in September to produce the traditional Christmas show in a virtual format.

“So many of our patrons look forward to our Christmas shows,” Mr. Westwood said. “I did not want them to be disappointed.”

The idea of inviting Fredonia alumni to perform was an obvious one after the overwhelming success of the 50th anniversary concert.

“That was a very special concert,” Mr. Westwood said. “Many people said it was the best concert they had ever been to - and the performances drew three standing ovations.”

Returning for the “Virtual Alumni Christmas Pops Concert” are:

• Lance Bryant, a vocal Performance major who is currently the musical director for The Platters.
• Sandra Dudley, a voice major who is a professor of commercial voice at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
• Lou Giovanetti, a Musical Theatre major who has appeared on Broadway in “Damn Yankees.”
• Devon Goffman, a Musical Theatre major who has toured with Gloria Estefan.
• Marcus Goldhaber, a Musical Theatre major who is now a songwriter and performer based in New York City.
• Evan Harrington, a Musical Theatre major who has Broadway acting credits including “Phantom of the Opera” and “Chicago.”
• Paul Marinaro, a voice major who is now a Chicago-based jazz vocalist who tours nationally.
• Anne Martinez, an Acting major who now performs in Las Vegas as a singer, dancer and actress
• Alissa Stahler, a vocal Performance major who is now a performer based in New York City.
• Debbie Williams, a Musical Theatre major who is now a Nashville-based singer.

Joining them will be:

• Nia Drummond, a voice major who is now a performer based in New York City. She previously appeared as part of Rockefeller’s presentation of “An Evening of Ella and Ellington” with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra.
• Susan Haefner, a Musical theatre major who is acclaimed as an actor, director, choreographer, teacher, producer and arts administrator. She has worked on Broadway, national and international tours.
• Michael Hawk, a voice Performance major who is now a member of the Los Angeles Opera’s Young Artist Program. He made his LA Opera debut as Prince Arjuna in "Satyagraha" in October 2018.
• Clint Holmes, a Las Vegas headliner who attended Fredonia in the mid-1960s as a vocal music major.
• Jason Ostrowski, a Musical Theatre major has credits on Broadway including Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” and a national tour of “Les Misérables.”

Also taking part will be Fredonia Voices, a vocal jazz group which has participated in past pops shows.

Each of the performers will create and submit a video of his or her performance. The clips will then be arranged to create a comprehensive performance that will air on Dec. 15.

The concert numbers range from traditional carols like “O Tannenbaum” to pops classics such as “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “Santa Baby” to newer tunes like Elton John’s “Step Into Christmas.”

The “Virtual Alumni Christmas Pops Concert” is a DFT Communications Pops Series event presented as part of the 2020-21 Lake Shore Savings Season.