This Week —

For most of us this year, the holidays will be unlike any other we’ve experienced. We all know 2020 has been like one big dumpster fire. But trust me, there’s still joy to be found in our lives. Perhaps all this time spent at home means you’ve grown closer to your family. Perhaps this year you’ll celebrate the holidays with a more intimate group. Maybe the hardships have caused you to take stock of what’s really important in your life.

For all our children’s sakes, let’s try and find a way to spread joy, hope and peace, and to celebrate in any way we can.

Listen to —

We’ll start with the magnificent Bach Christmas Oratorio and Handel’s Messiah, calling all the angels to join your table. Then we’ll serve up Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker to inspire your tiny dancers. From there, we’ll fast forward to some groovy jazz versions of traditional holiday songs. Then we’ll top off the playlist with a few songs from my own holiday album, Joyful Noise!

Gift a Book —

Reading gives us a place to go, even if we have to stay put for the holidays (again: thanks a lot, 2020). So this year I’m encouraging the gift of books. Visit my store on Bookshop.org for books about the orchestra, composers, women in music, and jazz. 

Happy reading, listening and spreading joy! 

(Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase)

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