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Darke County Center for the Arts will present a virtual
concert starring Shaun Johnson and his Big Band
Experience and
featuring a cappella group Tonic Sol-Fa on Thursday, December 3 at 7:30
p.m.
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Darke County Center for the Arts
DCCA presents Holiday Concert
Darke County Center for the Arts will present a virtual concert
starring Shaun Johnson and his Big Band Experience and featuring a
cappella group Tonic Sol-Fa on Thursday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. “In
order to fulfill DCCA’s mission to present high quality shows in our
community, we have been working with artists who are looking for
outlets to share their talents; we are thrilled that we can bring
singer Shaun Johnson and his cohorts to brighten this holiday season
with music and joy,” said DCCA Artistic Director David Warner.
Appropriately for this year when travel and get-togethers are
restricted, the show’s title is “I’ll Be Home For Christmas;” tickets
availability for this live-streamed performance is limited, with only
200 being sold.
Sean Johnson, who recently performed virtually for students in all
local public schools as part of DCCA’s Arts In Education program,
formed Emmy Award-winning vocal group Tonic Sol-fa while still a
college student, and has been touring with his traditional yet
inventive Big Band Experience for the past several years. Described by
the Minneapolis Star Tribune as “a retro nerd of the Rat Pack vintage”
Johnson is also said to “combine the dulcet urbanity of Michael Buble
with the campy yowl of the Stray Cats’ Brian Setzer.” Johnson himself
says that his band is “probably the world’s smallest big band,”
describing the 8-person group as a microcosm of the traditional big
band.
DCCA Executive Director Andrea Jordan states that while the
organization’s season is not transpiring as planned, Shaun Johnson’s
and his cohorts were originally scheduled to appear as part of DCCA’s
2020-2021”Vision” season of performances at St. Clair Memorial Hall.
“While there is no substitute for hearing an orchestra or artist
playing and singing live or the social aspect that allows us to gather
and mingle as a community within the beloved Hall, virtual performances
are certainly better than no performances at all,” she commented.
Both DCCA’s Arts In Education presentation of Shaun Johnson’s Big Band
Experience featuring Tonic Sol-Fa and the holiday special are made
possible by funding from Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts
Midwest, generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts
with additional contributions from the Ohio Arts Council and the Crane
Group. According to Arts Midwest Executive Director David J. Fraber,
“Arts events like this not only provide uplifting experiences for
audiences, they also create meaningful jobs for those employed in the
arts industry; Arts Midwest is proud to support Darke County Center for
the Arts in their upcoming engagement of Shaun Johnson and his Big Band
Experience.” DCCA also receives funding from the Ketrow Foundation,
Lydia E. Schaurer Memorial Trust Fund, Harry D. and Esther Stephens
Memorial, Inc., Coppock-Hole Trust, the John R. and Miriam H. Knick
Fund of Darke County Foundation, and Greenville Rotary.
Shaun Johnson and other performers will be live chatting with the
audience during the 60-minute show, bringing a personal connection to
enjoying the virtual performance from one’s home. To purchase your
tickets to “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” go to DCCA’s Website
www.darkecountyarts.org; although this is a “pay what you will” event,
suggested ticket price is $25 per household. For more information,
contact DCCA through their Website or by calling 937-547-0908.
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