GREENVILLE - 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.