Ho Ho Ho – Tis the Season to Deck the Halls with MUSIC FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY – CHRISTMAS SONGS of CHEER & COOL YULE spanning generations and centuries – right here in the beautiful Allegheny-Clarion River valley!
Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts is proud to be presenting in Foxburg’s Lincoln Hall on Sunday, December 15 at 7 PM, New York City’s hottest, award winning 5-person a cappella vocal quintet, BACKTRACK VOCALS, in their Joyous Christmas Show with songs from their 2019 holiday album.
If you are one of those who at Christmas have travelled to Pittsburgh’s Benedum or Heinz Hall or waited for your favorite glittery Holiday Program on television – this year you will be entertained here in storybook Foxburg, ablaze with thousands of Christmas lights and colorful decorations!
If you have loved close harmony, no matter the era – whether the 3X Grammy Award winning a cappella group PENTATONIX or the 10X Grammy Award winning TAKE 6 – or if you remember the Andrews and McGuire Sisters and crave traditional barber shop harmony…
Then you will LOVE the acclaimed five-voice a cappella YouTube Stars – BACKTRACK VOCALS!
Establishing their fresh sound and unique repertoire, Backtrack Vocals began their musical journey by launching a YouTube channel in 2013 – which has had 13 million views and has over 115,000 subscribers since then.
Backtrack Vocals won New York’s Got Talent Season 6, and other high-profile appearances include television spots on NBC, FOX, PBS, Steve Harvey’s daytime show “STEVE!”, Broadway’s “Kinky Boots,” and HBO’s “PAUSE with Sam Jay”. They made their movie debut in “A Ring for Christmas” in December 2020, and their international presence was highlighted by a performance and interview on Kazakhstan’s national morning show “ОЯН!” in June 2023.
Backtrack Vocals have extensive touring history across the United States, as well as performances in Vietnam and Kazakhstan. Infusing all their performances with heart and humor, Backtrack Vocals loves to get their audiences involved – as they perform music for the whole family – with versatile repertoire spanning generations and centuries – with something for everyone!
With the purity of their close vocal harmony, festive choreography, contagious joy and audience engagement, these young, energetic and enormously talented entertainers will fill us with the Spirit of Christmas and have us laughing and singing along to our favorite Christmas songs and a few nostalgic favorites.
In addition to songs from their 2019 Christmas album, A Backtrack Vocals Christmas, the group also will perform original arrangements and covers of contemporary popular Christmas hits like this one by Ariana Grande – as well as traditional favorites.
In their Christmas show, they also will perform some arrangements that have brought them acclaim and celebrity over the years – from pop songs, original music, Motown and Broadway hits – to more recent YouTube videos like The Addams Family and their most recent cover of “The Wizard and I” from the musical and newly released movie, WICKED.
You’ll be amazed by their delightful arrangements of classical music favorites, like their Beethoven Mash Up in this short, and their Nutcracker Medley.
Whether seasoned fans of a cappella singing or tiny tots being introduced to vocal music for the first time, this is the perfect Christmas gift for all ages – for yourself, friends and family – as you celebrate the JOY OF THE HOLIDAYS with loved ones.
TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST – so be sure to Buy Online or Reserve AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Tickets: $25 Adults, $20 ARCA Members / Students FREE, Accompanying Adults get Member discount
CALL to Reserve: 724-659-3153
BUY ONLINE here.
ARCA is grateful for the very generous contribution of ARCA Executive Director John Soroka and Board member, Katherine Soroka, sponsoring the debut of Backtrack Vocals in Lincoln Hall.
Discount Offer – Foxburg Inn & ARCA Concert Tickets
Forget your Winter Worries and bring the family to a concert in Lincoln Hall and stay at the Foxburg Inn for LESS.
With gratitude to the new owners of the Foxburg Inn, during the holiday season when you spend a romantic night at the newly renovated and rustically elegant Foxburg Inn AND purchase tickets for an ARCA concert from November 24 through December 22, you will receive a 20% room discount as well as the discounted Members’ ticket price for the concert!
If you have questions, you may call the hotel directly at (724) 659-3116.
ARCA-Backtrack Vocals Educational ArtReach
As ARCA’s gift to the community and fulfilling its commitment to bring educational resources to inspire and educate students in the region – following their Lincoln Hall concert, on Monday, December 16, ARCA’s Educational ArtReach program will bring Backtrack Vocals into the Allegheny-Clarion Valley Schools for elementary workshops and two assemblies for students in grades K to 12. They also will conduct an after school masterclass with the junior and senior high school choruses who will perform for the quintet.
Thanks to A-C Valley superintendent David McDeavitt and school principals Lori Marron Sherman and Bill Jordan as well as the dedicated A-C Valley music teachers for facilitating this outreach – Logan Green and general music and choral conductor Jennifer Powell Lowrey, who will be preparing the Jr/Sr high choral singers for their after school masterclass with the singers.
Outreach programs for students, music students and young aspiring artists are an important part of Backtrack’s mission. They have conducted educational programs at over 250 schools worldwide, from elementary assemblies to college workshops and a cappella camps in the US and abroad.
Their offerings include school assemblies, choir workshops, and clinics on beatboxing, group vocal improv, pop vocal techniques, and more. Through these programs, Backtrack helps students discover and nurture their unique voices, fosters inclusivity, and teaches about a cappella music in an engaging, interactive setting.
ARCA’s Educational ArtReach Program is honored to be bringing Backtrack Vocals to run workshops, assemblies and a fun masterclass for students in the A-C Valley Schools – from which over the years numerous students have gone on to study and perform music in college – as well as, wonderful singers who have gone on to work professionally in music, including a recent graduate on the voice faculty of Baldwin Wallace University conservatory.
About the Singers
Melissa Jordano, alto, is a singer, songwriter, and Co-President of Backtrack Vocals. She grew up in Basking Ridge, NJ and earned her B.A. in Film & Media Studies from Johns Hopkins University in 2014, with minors in Applied Mathematics & Statistics and Entrepreneurship & Management. A pivotal part of Melissa’s college experience was her involvement in a cappella as a member of the school’s competitive group, Octopodes. It was during her senior year with Octopodes that Melissa’s passion for songwriting ignited, as the group embarked on creating an album of all-original music. Her track “Kill the Lights” gained notable recognition, earning a spot on the “Sing 11: One Louder” compilation. Melissa continues to write music, and in 2021, she released her debut EP as a solo artist, “Lullabye.” Melissa joined Backtrack in 2015 and has played an integral role in its transition from an online hobby to a professional performing ensemble.
Mike Hinkle, tenor, is an actor, singer, and Co-President of Backtrack Vocals. Born and raised in Wilmington, DE, he attended Cab Calloway School of the Arts for musical theatre, drama and vocal performance. He went on to receive a BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in Drama, studying at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and the Lee Strasberg Film and Theatre Institute. During his collegiate years, he was a member of NYU’s original co-ed a cappella group, APC Rhythm. After college, Mike performed in multiple NYC theatre festivals and original musical productions. Since joining Backtrack in 2017, he has honed his video editing skills, leaving his mark on a number of the group’s music videos. He has loved learning the ins and outs of running a small business in the entertainment industry, and enjoys spending time with family.
Chrissy Aloisio, soprano, is a singer, dancer, actress, and teacher based in New York City. She got her start singing in church choir at the age of 9,and went on to receive her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Delaware. In college, she studied classical music and sang with award-winning a cappella group, Vocal Point. As Assistant Music Director and featured soloist of the group, Vocal Point placed 3rd in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Finals and was featured on numerous compilation albums such as BOCA and Voices Only. Prior to joining Backtrack, Chrissy performed professionally in the musical theatre industry throughout the US and abroad, directed shows for kids, and taught dance, musical theatre, private voice, and acting to children ages 3-18 at Gateway to the Arts, a performing arts studio in Denville, NJ. Chrissy joined Backtrack in 2021 and is the group’s Choreographer and Social Media Manager.
Max Addae, bass, is a vocalist, music technologist, and award-winning vocal arranger based in Brooklyn, NY. He developed his love for singing in the church around the age of 6, and continued to foster his love for music in high school and college through advanced choral ensembles, musical theatre, and contemporary a cappella. While pursuing his graduate studies at MIT, he served as Music Director of Upper Structure, a pop/R&B a cappella group based at the Berklee College of Music, who went on to receive first place at the 2023 Los Angeles A Cappella Festival (LAAF) Scholastic Competition under his leadership. His vocal arranging work has been performed by several scholastic and professional contemporary a cappella and choral groups across the country, and has received several awards from the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs). Outside of a cappella, Max is also a member of a pop-rock & hip-hop band called The Blackberry Poets, for which he serves as a lead vocalist, vocal arranger, and producer.
Michael Crisol, beatbox, aka Doctor Brick, is a professional beatboxer, born and raised in the Bronx. As of 2022, Doctor Brick is ranked as the 16th best beatboxer in the US. He has been competitively beatboxing since 2016 in cities all over North America, including Boston, Atlanta, New York, and Toronto. Some of these battles include the American Beatbox Championships, East Coast Beatbox Battle, and the Great North Beatbox Battle. He tackles the tag team division of beatbox battles with his partner, Alex P, as the duo known as Snakes and Ladders. Outside of the competitive scene, Brick performs with New York’s premiere hip hop improv group, North Coast, blending hip hop with improv comedy as their resident beatboxer. In addition to performing, Doctor Brick uses beatboxing in a teaching capacity under the Academy of Noise, providing beatbox workshops to schools all across the tristate area. For the last two years, Brick has utilized beatboxing in conjunction with the music program at the Lavelle School for the Blind in the Bronx.
ARRIVE EARLY & Shop at the RBG!
Join us to celebrate the holidays and create treasured Christmas memories with your family in storybook historic Foxburg, nostalgic and quaint – with glittering Christmas decorations and the Red Brick Gallery & Gift Shop’s Holiday Art Show filled to the brim with one-of-a kind handmade artisan gifts.
Plan to Make a Day of it in beautiful Foxburg and get some Christmas Shopping done at the Red Brick Gallery before the concert!
Looking for one-of-a-kind gifts for those special people on your list? Be sure to visit The Red Brick Gallery and Gift Shop Annual Holiday Art Show & Exhibit – and shop locally for Christmas ornaments and special holiday gifts including hand-woven shawls, gorgeous pottery, and one of a kind gem-stone necklaces, bracelets and rings made by three jewelry artists!
Glittering with Christmas decorations, The Red Brick Gallery and Gift Shop Annual Holiday Art Show & Exhibit will be open before the Backtrack Vocals Christmas concert on Sunday, December 15 from noon to 5 PM for your last minute Christmas shopping – to find a gift created by the talented Cooperative Artists from the region.
The Red Brick Gallery & Gift Shop’s Annual Holiday Art Show & Exhibit spans six weekends from Friday, November 15 to Sunday, December 22, featuring one-of -a-kind, high quality, original artisan-made gifts created by Red Brick Gallery Cooperative Member Artists: Karin Arnds, Taylor Banner, Chris Bauer, Mark DeWalt, Angela Taylor Hardwick, Ann Harting, Kathy Hogg, Dennis Keyes, Jason Floyd Lewis, Karen Mortland, Nissa Rappoport, Linda Thompson and Cathy & Jack Trzeciak.
NEW THIS SEASON:
Advance Appointments To Shop in the Gallery outside regular RBG hours are available by reservation. To arrange or for more information – Call 724-659-3153
Make It a Foxburg Holiday Outing!
Enjoy the beauty of Christmas in historic, storybook Foxburg village, decorated for the holidays with thousands of lights and colorful decorations – overlooking the beautiful Allegheny-Clarion River valley.
ALLEGHENY GRILLE
MAKE IT LUNCH or DINNER AND A CONCERT: During the holiday season before or after one of ARCA’s Christmas concerts, enjoy the fine dining menu at the Allegheny Grille – at a table in front of the fireplace – cozy and warm – or at a table overlooking the Allegheny River, beautiful in any season!
Enjoy their seasonal cocktails, weekend specials and enticing desserts.
Be sure to make a reservation to ensure that you have a seat – and plan to arrive early enough before a concert to be served in their main dining room with plenty of time to get to Lincoln Hall!
FOXBURG PIZZA
Or for more casual fare, dine at Foxburg Pizza with delicious salads, a huge variety of sandwiches and pizzas of the month – and every combination you can think of!
The dining rooms is ALL decorated for Christmas and Light Up Night – when Santa greeted the children and gave them gifts, compliments of the Foxburg Chamber of Commerce.
FOXBURG WINE CELLARS
Be sure to save time to enjoy a wine tasting in the newly renovated Foxburg Wine Cellars or enjoy a bottle of wine on the beautiful patio insulated for winter enjoyment.
Or do some Christmas shopping for stocking stuffers – and bottles of Foxburg specialty wines and after-dinner dessert wines as hostess gifts for holiday parties and for your holiday celebrations, as well as unique wine-related stocking stuffers for those wine lovers on your list.
Not to mention something for yourself, like their deliciously robust River Queen, guaranteed to warm you on cold winter nights.
FOXBURG INN
Plan to enjoy a wonderful pre-Christmas weekend enjoying the peace of the valley and the concert of the Backtrack Vocals – extending your stay on Saturday or Sunday night at the newly renovated, romantic Foxburg Inn, where every room has a view of the river!
If you reserve early, you can get the room with the fireplace!
With gratitude to the new owners of the Foxburg Inn, during the holiday season when you spend a romantic night at the newly renovated and rustically elegant Foxburg Inn AND attend an ARCA concert from December 7 through December 22, you will receive a room discount as well as the discounted Members’ ticket price for the concert!
To reserve discount concert tickets AND a night at the Foxburg Inn, you may go online to The Foxburg Inn. OR you may call the hotel directly at (724) 659-3116.
