For many years, brother and sister duo Pamela and Victor Simonson performed in concert as perhaps the nation’s first and only African-American brother and sister duo devoted to the performance and advocacy of classical music. As youth, their first concert debut took place on the stage of their Long Island, N.Y., church. Their upcoming special Christmas concert, which will take place Dec. 18 at the Twelfth Street Christian Church, marks their long-awaited return together to the concert stage.
Washingtonians will have an opportunity to see and hear the talented duo in an original production, Hark, How the Bells! written by Victor Simonson. The multi-genre concert, narration and musical telling of the Christmas story includes songs from Handel’s Messiah, traditional Christmas carols and piano selections. One week prior, soprano Pamela Simonson will return to the District as a soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah at Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, located on 16th Street in Northwest.
Renowned as a pianist, organist and music director, Victor Simonson recently completed a three-year tour as associate conductor with Oprah Winfrey’s production The Color Purple followed immediately by a musical directorship for CENTERSTAGE’s production of The Wiz. Three years his junior, his sister, Pamela, has sung with the Washington National Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and on stages throughout Europe. The talented team has performed concerts throughout the eastern seaboard and look forward to bringing a unique holiday musical to all ages.
For more information and tickets, call the church at 202-265-4494 or visit www.twelfthstcc.org.
