Fallbrook Music Society celebrates the season with "JOY" – a holiday concert

FALLBROOK – Best-selling contemporary jazz keyboardist Scott Wilkie brings his popular Christmas concert to Fallbrook for the first time when Fallbrook Music Society presents "JOY" on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m.

"We can't wait to welcome in the holiday season with the unique energy of this talented ensemble," said Bob Freaney, president of Fallbrook Music Society. "After this past year and a half, we can all use some Christmas joy and our favorite holiday carols. It will be an exciting evening that promises to be the beginning of a new annual tradition in town," he added.

Wilkie will be performing his eighth annual JOY concert. The album that inspired the concert was released in 2015 followed by a special-edition DVD and a live stream concert. The JOY selections are fresh and invigorating and include arrangements of classic carols such as "Silent Night," "We Three Kings," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "Do You Hear What I Hear," and other holiday favorites.

What makes this program somewhat different from the usual fare is a favorite from Vice Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas," and Rodgers & Hammerstein's "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music. Fallbrook's Mission Theater will be especially fitting for Wilkie's performance, as it features a Yamaha C7 concert grand, exactly like his piano at home, and heard on all of his recordings.

This not-to-be-missed evening will be an opportunity to experience an intimate performance by this noted pianist and featuring Wilkie's unique arrangements of holiday favorites with fresh takes on traditional seasonal classics.

Born and raised in Detroit, Wilkie came to Southern California more than 30 years ago. Known for his fiery live performances, he has performed worldwide, and his eight albums have garnered critical acclaim. His most recent release, Brasil, was honored by Jazziz magazine as one of the "Best of 2019," and it spent over three straight months at the top of Amazon's Hot Sellers list. His Fallbrook Christmas performance features longtime friends Pat Kelley on guitar, bassist Nathan Brown, and drummer Jeff Olson.

This year, the "JOY" concert is generously sponsored by Fallbrook's Murphy and Murphy Southern California Realty.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for social hour, and concert hall doors open at 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 11, at Mission Theater, 231 North Main Avenue. The concert starts at 6:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $10 adult until Friday, Dec. 10 at Noon; $15 thereafter, and can be purchased at fallbrookmissiontheater.com or fallbrookmusicsociety.org. Children 18 and under are free with one paid adult.

Fallbrook Music Society is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization celebrating its 44th year of presenting excellence in music performances and youth music education to Fallbrook and its surrounding communities. More information is available at fallbrookmusicsociety.org or 760-451-8644.

Submitted by the Fallbrook Music Society.