VOCAL JAZZ CHRISTMAS AT TOWN HALL & SYMPHONY HALL

SIR WILLARD WHITE: ROBESON RE-EXPLORED, Wed 9 December, Town Hall

THE NEW YORK VOICES WITH THE BBC BIG BAND, Fri 18 December, Town Hall

BLACK VOICES CHRISTMAS CONCERT, Sat 19 December, Town Hall

SIMPLY GERSHWIN, Mon 28 December, Symphony Hall

BBC Big Band get in the Christmas swing on Friday 18 December at Town Hall when they are joined by the outstanding New York Voices for an exclusive UK appearance. The Grammy-winning quartet will perform a sensational programme including Sing Sing Sing, Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens, Orange Coloured Sky and seasonal favourites such as We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

The music of George Gershwin takes centre stage at Symphony Hall on Monday 28 December with the London Concert Orchestra in an evening of song and dance. Simply Gershwin is full of Broadway glamour and toe-tapping tunes – with tap dancer Douglas Boyd – including Rhapsody in Blue, Someone to Watch Over Me, The Man I Love, Walking the Dog and excerpts from Porgy & Bess.

Gershwin, Porter, Kern and Ellington all feature in Willard White‘s celebration of Paul Robeson at Town Hall on Wednesday 9 December. Robeson Re-explored acknowledges the four appearances at Birmingham’s Town Hall made by the legendary singer, performer and civil rights activist. The Town Hall Gospel Choir joins Willard White’s band for an evening of traditional folk songs, jazz and spirituals.

The Town Hall Gospel Choir is back on stage as a special guest in the popular, annual Black Voices Christmas Concert at Town Hall on Saturday 19 December – an evening of uplifting jazz and blues, gospel and spirituals, traditional Caribbean and African music as well as new arrangements of Christmas classics. The Town Hall Gospel Choir was originally formed in 2007 and appeared along with Black Voices in the Town Hall’s Re-Opening Concert.

Further information and tickets are available from the Box Office on 0121 780 3333 or via www.thsh.co.uk

ENDS

Note to Editors

Event info

Wednesday 9 December, 7.30pm, Town Hall (Sold Out, Returns only)
SIR WILLARD WHITE: ROBESON RE-EXPLORED
Sir Williard White
Pavao String Quartet
Guy Barker trumpet
Neal Thornton piano and arrangements
Geoff Gascoyne bass
Richard Bolton guitar
Mark Doffman drums
Town Hall Gospel Choir
event page
6.15pm Free pre-concert talk: Paul Robeson remembered
NB SOLD OUT, RETURNS ONLY

Friday 18 December, 7.30pm, Town Hall
THE NEW YORK VOICES WITH THE BBC BIG BAND
event page
BBC Big Band is a Town Hall Associate Artist
Concert to be recorded for BBC Radio 2’s Big Band Special

Saturday 19 December, 7.30pm, Town Hall
BLACK VOICES CHRISTMAS CONCERT
With special guests Town Hall Gospel Choir
event page
Black Voices is a Town Hall Associate Artist

Monday 28 December, 7.30pm, Symphony Hall
SIMPLY GERSHWIN
London Concert Orchestra
Gavin Sutherland piano/conductor
Douglas Mills tap dancer
Nicola Hughes, Edward Baruwa, special guest vocalists
event page

Town Hall and Symphony Hall are managed together by Performances Birmingham Limited, an independent charitable trust. Between them, the two halls present an exciting and varied programme of over 600 concerts and events a year, designed to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. Over 500,000 people visit Town Hall and Symphony Hall annually, and a thriving education/community department reaches a further 20,000 people of all ages.

Town Hall Birmingham re-opened in October 2007 following a £35m renovation funded by Birmingham City Council (£18.3m), Heritage Lottery Fund (£13.7m), European Regional Development Fund (£3m).

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TOWN HALL SYMPHONY HALL BOX OFFICE 0121 780 3333
ON-LINE BOOKING www.thsh.co.uk
(£2 fee per transaction charged on all bookings except purchases made in person at the box office) – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
Fiona Fraser/Lyle Bignon
Press & PR Manager/Assistant Press & PR Manager
E Fiona.fraser@thsh.co.uk/lyle.bignon@thsh.co.uk
T 0121 644 5008/0121 644 6028 (Direct)