The hotel will host a special Cookies with Santa event on its tented Rooftop from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, December 22. Families are invited to enjoy festive decorations, cookie and ornament decorating, and photos with Santa himself, all free of charge.
The Grammy Award-winning all-male a cappella sextet The King’s Singers return to the National Cathedral this December for the final stop on their 2018 North American Christmas tour. The concert is Saturday, December 22 at 7:30pm. The program, GOLD Christmas, celebrates The King’s Singers 50thbirthday, with music that has defined the group’s first half century as well as new commissions from their three-disc anniversary album, GOLD. Of course, popular Christmas carols have a prominent place on the program, sung with The King’s Singers’ trademark purity of tone, blend, and British wit. In addition to being the final concert of The King’s Singers’ 50thanniversary season, this will also be the last concert for second countertenor Timothy Wayne-Wright and second baritone Christopher Gabbitas, both departing after many seasons with the group.
Tickets to The King’s Singers GOLD Christmas at Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC 20016) are $25-$95, with $15 tickets available for students, and can be purchased at cathedral.org or by calling 202-537-6200.
Full program information:
The King’s Singers GOLD Christmas
| WHAT CHEER | John David arr. Peter Knight (adapted Philip Lawson | Born on a new day |
| ANCIENT ORIGINS | Trad. arr. Philip Lawson Trad. arr. Brian Kay |
Veni, veni Emmanuel Gaudete |
| A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE | Adrian Willaert | Ave virgo sposa Dei – Inviolata est |
| CAROLS FROM KING’S | Bob Chilcott Mykola Leontovych arr. Keith Roberts |
The Shepherd’s Carol Carol of the bells |
| A STAR IS BORN | Toby Hession | Master of Music* |
| CHRISTMAS FOR A CENTURY | Arvo Pärt Peter Warlock John Rutter |
Bogoróditse Djévo Bethlehem Down There is a flower |
| JOY TO THE WHOLE WORLD | Bob Chilcott | We are* |
| Intermission | ||
| THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING | A celebration of ancient and modern Christmas music from across The King’s Singers repertoire | |
* = New anniversary commission
About The King’s Singers
Patrick Dunachie Countertenor
Timothy Wayne-Wright Countertenor
Julian Gregory Tenor
Christopher Bruerton Baritone
Christopher Gabbitas Baritone
Jonathan Howard Bass
The King’s Singers were established in May 1968, formed by six recently-graduated choral scholars from King’s College, Cambridge. Their vocal line-up was (by chance) two countertenors, a tenor, two baritones and a bass, and the group has never wavered from this formation since.
What really distinguished the group in its early years was its musical diversity. The King’s Singers were a weekly fixture on prime-time television, celebrating popular music never usually touched by choral ensembles, and their unique British charm, combined with their musical craft, captured audiences’ hearts the world over. The group has consistently been welcomed on the world’s great stages throughout its history – from London’s Royal Albert Hall to the Opera House in Sydney or New York’s Carnegie Hall – as well as being ambassadors for musical excellence across the globe. Two Grammy® Awards, an Emmy® Award, and a place in Gramophone magazine’s inaugural Hall of Fame sit among the numerous accolades bestowed upon the group.
This love of diversity has always fuelled The King’s Singers’ commitment to creating new music. A panoply of commissioned works by many of the greatest composers of our times – including Luciano Berio, György Ligeti, Nico Muhly, John Rutter, Toru Takemitsu, Sir John Tavener and Eric Whitacre – sits alongside countless bespoke arrangements in the group’s extensive repertoire.
The world may have changed a lot in the fifty years since the original King’s Singers came together, but today’s group is still charged by the same lifeblood – one that wants to radiate the joy singing brings every day, and that wants to give life to audiences with their virtuosity and vision for an exciting musical future.
The National Symphony Orchestra continues its Star Wars series this season with Return of the Jedi, in three performances on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 7 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday, January 23 and 24, 2019 at 8 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. NSO Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke leads the Orchestra in John Williams’s memorable score to accompany the film as it’s shown on the big screen above the Orchestra.
Acclaimed Broadway actress and Grammy Award®–winning singer Brandy joins the NSO for her first ever collaboration with an orchestra. Brandy and the NSO, led by Steven Reineke, will explore the unlikely connections between R&B and symphony as she revisits personal favorites from across her own career and from artists and works that have inspired her. Two performances take place: Friday and Saturday, January 25 and 26, 2019 at 8 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
The NSO concludes its Star Wars live score series with The Force Awakens(February 21–23, 2019). Other 2018–2019 NSO Pops performances include An Evening with Leslie Odom, Jr. (May 1–3, 2019) and 50 Years Over the Rainbow: A Judy Garland Celebration (June 28–29, 2019).
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets (Star Wars: $34–$149; Brandy: $39–$139) are available at the Kennedy Center Box Office, online at kennedy-center.org, and via phone through Instant Charge, (202) 467-4700; toll-free at (800) 444-1324. For all other ticket-related customer service inquires, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540.
The National Symphony Orchestra continues its Star Wars series this season with Return of the Jedi, in three performances on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 7 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday, January 23 and 24, 2019 at 8 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. NSO Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke leads the Orchestra in John Williams’s memorable score to accompany the film as it’s shown on the big screen above the Orchestra.
Acclaimed Broadway actress and Grammy Award®–winning singer Brandy joins the NSO for her first ever collaboration with an orchestra. Brandy and the NSO, led by Steven Reineke, will explore the unlikely connections between R&B and symphony as she revisits personal favorites from across her own career and from artists and works that have inspired her. Two performances take place: Friday and Saturday, January 25 and 26, 2019 at 8 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
The NSO concludes its Star Wars live score series with The Force Awakens(February 21–23, 2019). Other 2018–2019 NSO Pops performances include An Evening with Leslie Odom, Jr. (May 1–3, 2019) and 50 Years Over the Rainbow: A Judy Garland Celebration (June 28–29, 2019).
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets (Star Wars: $34–$149; Brandy: $39–$139) are available at the Kennedy Center Box Office, online at kennedy-center.org, and via phone through Instant Charge, (202) 467-4700; toll-free at (800) 444-1324. For all other ticket-related customer service inquires, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540.
For those who are Jewish and single, there’s only one place they will want to be this December 24, 2018 – at the MATZOBALL powered by JSwipe. The event, which will be held in cities around the country, is in its 32nd year, and will be the bash that those looking to have fun and meet other singles will want to attend. It’s a party each year that thousands of people attend, with many of them finding themselves getting lucky in love. The event is sponsored by JSwipe, the #1 Jewish dating app around the world. From hooking up and having fun to finding their soul mate, MATZOBALL has been the catalyst that has helped many Jewish singles find each other.
“This is one of the most important events each year in the Jewish community if you are single,” explains Andrew Rudnick, from Mazel Events, LLC and founder of the MATZOBALL. “People know that they will not only have a great time, but there is a good chance it will be the place where a new relationship gets started. This event is literally the birthplace of many happy families, and we’re proud of that.”
Since the first MATZOBALL was held in 1987, there have been over 400,000 people attending the mega party. It’s a party that got its start when Rudnick convinced a bar owner to keep the place open for him and some friends one Christmas Eve. After meeting his future wife at that party and seeing the fun that everyone had, it became a tradition. The tradition stuck around, grew beyond what anyone would have thought possible, and has become a tradition in the Jewish singles community. However, it’s not all just Jewish who attend: MATZOBALL parties are the annual Christmas Eve party of the year! The majority of attendees are Jewish, though more and more, the flood gates have opened with singles of all backgrounds showing up.
This year, the MATZOBALL will be held in select cities on December 24, 2018, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Attendees must be 21 to attend.
“If you are at least 21, Jewish, and single, you will not want to miss attending a MATZOBALL party,” added Rudnick. “It’s the kind of event you will be talking about for years to come. You may even be telling your kids about how it’s where you and your spouse first met. It’s that significant. Get your tickets early, because they will sell out, and you don’t want to be left out.”
JSwipe, who is the title sponsor of the event, has over 1 million users. Their app, which is available for download on iOS and Android devices, makes it easy to swipe left or right on Jewish singles nearby. Those swiping will receive a match when both parties swipe right. Their site reports that they are responsible for thousands of love stories, engagements, and babies. JSwipe’s mission is to bring Jewish singles together and create meaningful relationships.
In addition to general admission tickets, many venues offer upgrades, including a fast pass to move you to the front of the admission line. Some parties are also offering group table packages, which include multiple tickets for admission, alcohol, VIP lines, and more. For complete city information, ticket options and pricing, to purchase tickets, or to join the VIP list, visit the website at: https://matzoball.org.
Experience the soulful sounds of yesteryear as LADIES IN THE DAY light up District Wharf this holiday season with a mix of classy, sassy renditions of jazz and blues classics in a special evening that celebrates the legacy and soul of trailblazing black songstresses Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, and others, plus a few surprises, on December 27, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) at UNION STAGE, located at 740 Water St SW.
Tickets are $35 through via Ticketfly. This is a seated show on a first-come, first-served basis; full dinner and drink menu available.
Featuring four dynamic voices and a live band, LADIES IN THE DAY will take you back to the biggest hits by the Queens of Jazz and Soul in this timeless show. Known for their incredible vocals, the group captures the magic of the golden age of music and the spirit of the singers who originally recorded each song.
Get into the groove as these divas in their own right celebrate some of the female artists whose work has left an indelible and profound impact on our musical culture. Join in for the LADIES IN THE DAY show at UNION STAGE for a festive experience where the music flows and the songs that made history come alive!
Ring in the New Year at Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown’s Pop & Bop celebration. On Monday, December 31st, from 8:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m., the hotel’s stunning lobby will be buzzing with friends old and new. The outdoor courtyard will also be alluring with holiday lights, fire pits and heaters to keep partygoers toasty and warm.
Specially priced Thiénot champagne will be popped and available by the glass or bottle along with bubbly champagne cocktails. Fairmont’s signature cheese, charcuterie and seafood stations, including Chesapeake Bay oysters, is priced at $35 dollars with unlimited access. The Lobby Bar’s à la carte menu will also be available.
Dancing and bopping begins at 9:00 p.m., as Dom Petrellese’s five-piece band returns with a vocalist performing disco, pop and R&B. A free champagne toast will pop at midnight and; party favors will be distributed to all – creating a popping and bopping New Year’s celebration.
There is no cover charge or minimum spend for Fairmont’s Pop & Bop New Year’s Eve celebration. Reservations are required through Eventbrite at: https://fairmontwashington.eventbrite.com
Fashion Group International’s annual Holiday Party will be hosted at the home of Regional Director Kim Elleen Atkins
Hello! On Friday, January 18 at 7 p.m. Laurie Halse Anderson, author of the critically acclaimed and bestselling young adult novel Speak, will be at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast celebrating the launch of book’s 20th anniversary edition, which hits shelves on January 15. Laurie will be in-conversation with National Book Award-winning author Elizabeth Acevedo.
Step Afrika! launches its 25th anniversary at the Music Center at Strathmore with a retrospective of the Company’s best-loved works on Sunday, January 20, 2019 at 5 p.m. The performance continues Strathmore’s rich collaboration with Step Afrika!, started in 2014, to celebrate step by showcasing some of the art form’s best 
performers annually on its hallmark Music Center stage. The performance includes selected works from Step Afrika!’s history, including Wade,Passing 25, and Nxt/Stp: Hip Hop. The wide range of work demonstrates the versatility of step, connecting it to hip hop, African American spirituals, and South African traditional and contemporary dance forms. Dem Raider Boyz Step Squad of Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Prince George’s County will open the show; the troupe achieved national notoriety on NBC’s reality-competition show World of Dance in 2018. For more information call (301) 581-5100 or visitwww.strathmore.org.
Step Afrika! was founded in 1994 as the first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping. It now ranks as one of the top African American dance companies in the United States. The Company blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities, African traditional dance, and influences from a variety of other dance and art forms. Performances traditionally integrate song, storytelling, humor, and audience participation.
In 2019, Step Afrika! will launch its first tour in Ukraine and will return to South Africa in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the historic election of President Nelson Mandela. Step Afrika! has performed at the White House for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, headlining their Presidential Black History Month Reception, and is also featured prominently at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in the world’s first stepping interactive—a video installation where patrons can learn the basics of step straight from Step Afrika! instructors. They also brought a step showcase to New York’s famed theater district for the first time, with a three-week, sold-out engagement at the New Victory Theater.
