By Lookout Staff

November 30, 2016 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) music students will offer seasonal standards as well as musical styles ranging from classical to funk during a series of December concerts, college officials announced.

The concerts -- which will be held in The Broad Stage or The Edye at the SMC Performing Arts Center -- kick off Friday when veteran bassist and composer Kevin "Brandino" Brandon and his ensemble perform jazz, funk and some of Brandon's challenging compositions. Tickets are $10.

This weekend, the Westside Ballet, joined by the SMC Symphony and SMC dancers, will present Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” Ballet at the Broad Stage.

The annual "holiday extravaganza" features "Tchaikovsky’s majestic score, Balanchine’s exuberant choreography, falling snow, and a Christmas tree that grows," organizers said.

The performances, which are part of the SMC Public Policy Institute’s Fall Arts & Cultural Affairs Symposium, take place Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. (See westsideballet.com for ticket details.)

Next Tuesday at 11:15 a.m. and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Dr. Yulia Kozlova will direct SMC's advanced piano students in a piano ensemble recital that will "reveal the uniqueness and diversity" of four-hand piano and piano duo repertoire.

Complimentary tickets for the Tuesday morning performance are available at the SMC Music Office in Room 211 of the Performing Arts Center. Tickets for the December 8 concert are $10.

Next Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. at The Broad Stage, Jeffe Huls will conduct the SMC Concert Chorale in a performance that will pair 18th century Neapolitan composer Francesco Durante’s Magnificat with other notable choral works. The concert will include the popular holiday sing-a-long. Tickets are $10.

On Thursday morning, December 8, at 11:30 a.m. at The Edye, the SMC Percussion Ensemble conducted by Megumi Smith will present "a creative, unique performance of percussion music, covering a variety of styles," organizers said. The concert if free, and complimentary tickets are available at the SMC Music Office in Room 211 of the Performing Arts Center.

SMC’s award-winning jazz vocal ensemble, led by Andreas Preponis and backed by LA-area jazz musicians, will perform a program of jazz repertoire specifically arranged for four-part harmony on Friday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m. at The Broad Stage. The concert features guest ensemble Jazzadena from Pasadena City College. Tickets are $10.

On Saturday, December 10 at 4 p.m. at The Edye, the SMC Chamber Choir, directed by Andreas Preponis, will perform Camille Saint-Saens’ “Christmas Oratorio” and other "seasonal gems," organizers said. The ensemble will be accompanied by a string quartet, harp, and organ. Tickets are $10.

The SMC Wind Ensemble, under the baton of Kevin McKeown, will perform holiday music Sunday, December 11 at 2 p.m. at The Broad Stage. A local middle school student who won the annual SMC Wind Ensemble Essay Contest will be a guestt conductor. Tickets are $10.

The December performances conclude on Wednesday, December 14, at 7:30 p.m. with a concert by SMC’s advanced voice students under the direction of Diana Zaslove Kahn at The Edye. The performance includes classical, jazz, musical theater and contemporary commercial songs. Tickets are $10.

For more information call (310) 434-3005 or (310) 434-4323, or go to www.smc.edu/eventsinfo for tickets and information.