Christmas is upon us and what better way to get into the spirit than with songs of the season during the Natchez Festival of Music’s annual Christmas Cabaret on Friday.

The Christmas Cabaret will be directed by Joseph Britain with vocalists John Christopher Adams, Maryann Kyle and Jennifer Hart and will be narrated by Greg Iles.

Iles was born in Germany in 1960, where his father ran the U.S. Embassy Medical Clinic during the height of the Cold War. Iles spent his youth in Natchez and graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1983. Iles wrote his first novel in 1993, a thriller about Nazi war criminal Rudolf Hess, which became the first of 12 New York Times bestsellers. His novels have been made into films, translated into more than 20 languages, and published in more than 35 countries worldwide. His new epic trilogy continues the story of Penn Cage, protagonist of “The Quiet Game,” “Turning Angel,” and New York Times No. 1 bestseller “The Devil’s Punchbowl.”

Britain graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1984 with a degree in accounting, yet has never worked as an accountant due to his passion for music. Britain is a performer and prolific arranger, appearing with and writing for The Mississippi, Alabama, Utah and Tampa symphony orchestras.

Adams is a native of Fannin and holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Mississippi College, a master’s degree in vocal performance and an artistic diploma in opera from the University of Cincinnati — College Conservatory of Music. Adams has received several honors including being named the Nation’s Top Performer by the International Thespian Society in 2001, induction into the Mississippi Thespian Hall of Fame, along with many others.

Kyle is an active performer of opera, concert and recital repertoire and a professor of voice at the University of Southern Mississippi where she is director of the Southern Opera and Music Theatre Company’s Outreach and Workshop program. Kyle also serves on the faculty of the International Performing Arts Institute, Germany, Operafestival di Roma, Italy, and was a featured clinician at the Festival Musica nas Montanhas, Brazil. In 2014, Kyle assumed leadership of the International Belt Voice Symposium in Kiefersfelden, Germany as a part of IPAI.

Hart is a voice instructor at Jones County Junior College and has served as the music director for numerous productions with Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera, Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company. Her performing career includes several productions during FestivalSouth, San Antonio Symphony and the Festival of the Aegean in Syros, Greece and a regular contributor for the Natchez Christmas Cabaret.

The Christmas Cabaret will begin at 7 p.m. Doors opening at 6 p.m. with a cash bar at the Natchez Community Center, 215 Franklin St. Food trays are available for purchase in advance for $25 each. Individual tickets are $35 or $300 for a table of 10. Tickets can be purchased by calling 601-446-6631, 800-647-6742, visiting www.natchezfestivalofmusic.com or at the door.

Everyone is encouraged to decorate their table for Christmas, which can be done after 9 a.m. on Friday. A grand prize of an Encore Package for the 2016 Season, Four Flags Over Natchez, will be awarded for first place in decoration.

Don’t miss the Alcorn State University Concert Choir and Men’s Chorale to perform their annual Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 at St. Mary Basilica.There is no cost to attend, making this a not to miss event!

The Natchez Festival of Music is celebrating its 26th season with a lineup of musical entertainment that will encompass multiple styles and genres, Four Flags Over Natchez – A Tricentennial Season. Upcoming events include Ronnie McDowell and Friends Nothing But The Hits Christmas Tour featuring Tommy Cash, Ken Mellons, Deborah Allen, Amber Hayes, Teea Goans and Mandy Barnett with special guest Blend on Friday, Dec. 11 at the Natchez Performing Arts Center at Margaret Martin. Please visit us at www.natchezfestivalofmusic.com for further announcements and our complete 2016 season with events such as The Inspirations of Glen Ballard, Show Boat and Carmen.

 

Katie Johnson McCabe is the Natchez Festival of Music chairman of marketing and publicity