An assortment of Green Valley Puppetry puppets posing for the camera. Photo courtesy of Rancho Cordova RCCB

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band will present two concerts of “Holiday Fun And Memories,” the first on Sunday, December 3rd, 2023, at Koreana Plaza, and the second on Sunday, December 10th, 2023, at The Cordova Performing Arts Center, Rancho Cordova. Both concerts begin at 3 p.m.

The concert at Koreana Plaza on December 3rd will also feature vocalists from The Silver Lining, and the December 10th concert at the Cordova Performing Arts Center will feature the same vocalists, plus puppets from Green Valley Puppetry, and jazz pianist Jim Martinez. Under the direction of Tom Seaton, the Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band will celebrate the season with selections including “Jing Jing Jingle,” “African Holy Night,” “Winter Milky Way,” and “I Saw Three Ships.”

 At the December 10th performance, puppets from Green Valley Puppetry will perform with the band on “The Toymaker’s Workshop,” “Mah Na Mah Na Christmas” and “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.” Sacramento jazz pianist Jim Martinez will join the band on “It’s A Wonderful Christmas” and perform some selections with his trio from Vince Guaraldi’s Classic, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

 Martinez has performed/recorded with jazz notables Lionel Hampton, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove and many others. Martinez worked as pianist/musical director for Joan Rivers and Bob Newhart at Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe. Jim’s annual jazzy holiday concert, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” has been featured with symphony orchestras around the U.S., from California to Florida.

 The band is pleased to be sponsored by the City of Rancho Cordova, and is enthusiastically affiliated with the Sacramento Valley Symphonic Band Association (SVSBA) and the Association of Concert Bands (ACB). Performing an average of ten concerts a year, Rancho Cordova RCCB remains true to the American community band tradition - all of their concerts and performances throughout their yearlong season are free to the public. Therefore, there is no admission charge.

 The Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization made up of approximately 50 volunteer musicians who donate their time and musical talents to present concerts with a broad audience appeal. The band can be followed on Facebook, and their web page can also be visited at www.rcconcertband.org. Videos of live and virtual performances can be viewed on the band’s YouTube channel.

 Come join the Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band on Sunday, December 3rd, at 3 p.m. at Koreana Plaza, and/or on Sunday, December 10th at Cordova Performing Arts Center, 2239 Chase Dr., Rancho Cordova, CA 95670.