Production features international, local cast

Youth Arts in Action presents “It's a Wonderful Christmas!” a production featuring young award-winning musicians, singers and dancers celebrating the true spirit of Christmas on Dec. 22 at the Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture.

Among the performers is Italian dancer Timoteo Mock, who will be visiting the United States for the first time and dancing with partner Nadia Khan from the ballet school, Staatsschule, Berlin. Mock trained at La Scala in Italy and won classical and contemporary awards in international ballet competitions including first prize at the International Dance World Cup in Portugal, as well as first prize in classical ballet at the Festival in Rieti in Italy.

Khan has studied at renowned ballet schools internationally, including the Kirov Academy in Washington, D.C., Royal Ballet School in London and Academie de Danse Classique Princess Grace in Monte Carlo, Monaco. She has trained with Prima Ballerina Assoluta Eva Evdokimova in New York City, and won many scholarship awards including one from the Tiger Woods Foundation.

Also performing will be violinist Jesse MacDonald who was a finalist in the 2007 Youth Arts in Action Outstanding Young Artist Award, winner of the Umpqua Young Artists competition in Oregon, gold medalist in the Musikfest Northwest concerto competition, and winner in the Montana Association of Symphony Orchestras Young Artist Concerto Competition. MacDonald, a local favorite who attends Bozeman High School, has also shared his talented gifts with the Bozeman Symphony.

Fiddler James Schlender, finalist in the 2007 Youth Arts in Action Outstanding Young Artist Award and winner of many local and national fiddle contests, recently placed sixth in an adult fiddle competition in Nashville.

Joining this cast is singer Laura Kehoe who trained at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and now studies opera and sings in an ensemble at the University of Colorado. She recently appeared in the University's production of Mozart's “The Magic Flute.”

Two shows at 2 and 7 p.m. are scheduled. One hundred percent of the proceeds go into a scholarship fund to help these and many other local, talented young artists pursue their dreams of a career in the arts. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under and can be purchased online at www.youthartsinaction.org or by calling 585-5885.

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