Submitted Content

Norris' fourth annual Baker's Dozen Holiday Festival is a free gift to the community

Posted November 30, 2023 10:00 pm

By Mark Smith Norris Cultural Arts Center

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, jazz vocalist Tatum Langley kicks off Norris' "Baker's Dozen Holiday Festival," a daily online program featuring some of the area's top talent. Courtesy of Tatum Langley

The Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles presents its fourth annual Baker's Dozen Holiday Festival starting Dec. 12 and running exclusively online through Dec. 24. Free to view, the festival is offered by The Norris as a holiday season gift to the community.

Each day on its website and YouTube channel, The Norris will post a new festival video episode (typically 5 minutes in length), featuring a popular local musician, performer or ensemble. All episodes will remain posted throughout the Christmas season and into the new year. Visit www.NorrisCulturalArts.com for information and access to the videos.

This year's festival includes nine new performances and four "Encore" episodes from previous years.

• Dec. 12: Tatum Langley, jazz vocalist

• Dec. 13: Lee Murdock, folk singer and composer

• Dec. 14: Shout Section Big Band - Encore performance from previous festival

• Dec. 15: Dr. Paul Gordon, Superintendent of St. Charles District 303 schools, reading a Christmas story to the kindergarten class at Lincoln Elementary School

• Dec. 16: Hanson String Quartet from the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras Honors Chamber Ensembles program

• Dec. 17: Bethlehem Lutheran Sounds of Joy Bell Choir - Encore performance from previous festival

• Dec. 18: Jim Perona, classical guitarist

• Dec. 19: Julia Danielle, jazz vocalist, and Jeremy Kahn, jazz pianist

• Dec. 20: Dan Buck and One of the Boyzz - Encore performance from previous festival

• Dec. 21: Clemens Wind Quintet from the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras Honors Chamber Ensembles program

• Dec. 22: Jeffrey LaDeur, pianist

• Dec. 23: Maureen Christine, vocalist - Encore performance from previous festival

• Dec. 24: Michael Sherry in "The Essential Christmas Carol," a unique retelling of Dickens' holiday classic

The Norris launched the first festival in December 2020 to provide performance opportunities to local performers who had been denied access to their audience during the pandemic, and to offer fresh entertainment to the public who likewise was affected by pandemic restrictions. The festival proved popular enough to continue after pandemic restrictions were removed.

The festival derives its name from the fact that it was produced and recorded at the Baker Community Center, and that its 13 episodes constitute a "baker's dozen."

This year's festival includes new episodes recorded at the Baker Center and the Norris Cultural Arts Center.

For the fourth consecutive year, the festival is sponsored by Mike Corbett Edward Jones, St. Charles.

On Saturday, Dec. 16, the Hanson String Quartet, one of Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras Honors Chamber Ensembles, will perform in the "Baker's Dozen Holiday Festival" Courtesy of EYSO

The 2022 performance of Bethlehem Lutheran's Sounds of Joy Handbell Choir, directed by Michelle Fisher, will be featured on Sunday, Dec. 17. Courtesy of The Norris

On Monday, Dec. 18, classical guitarist Jim Perona will perform as part of Norris' "Baker's Dozen Holiday Festival." Courtesy of Jim Perona

See the 2022 performance of longtime local rock star Dan Buck and his band, One of the Boyzz, on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Courtesy of Dan Buck and One of the Boyzz

The Norris Cultural Arts Center presents its fourth annual Baker's Dozen Holiday Festival, a free, 13-episode online video series featuring popular local performers. Episodes will be posted daily, Dec. 12-24. Courtesy of Joel Freese

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.