The Edison Foundation’s Annual Holiday Evening to Feature Regional Artists

The Edison Foundation’s 27th Annual Holiday Evening will take place at Edison State Community College’s Piqua Campus on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The multi-stage event will include performances from three regional artists covering a variety of styles. Attendees can enjoy the music of the Kim Kelly Orchestra, Parker Hastings, and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra String Quartet II.

Proceeds from this year’s event will help The Edison Foundation assist Edison State in meeting its education and community service goals by providing resources to advance student success. The Edison Foundation accomplishes this through scholarships, student emergency assistance, employee mini-grants, and capital improvement. Attendance and support of this event directly contribute to these initiatives.

“The Edison Foundation has enjoyed kicking off the holiday season in the northern Miami Valley for over two decades with Holiday Evening at Edison State,” said Dr. Rick Hanes, Vice President of Advancement, Strategic Planning, & Partnerships and Executive Director of The Edison Foundation. “This year, we’re excited to highlight regional entertainment on three stages combined with great food, drink, and fellowship!”

The Kim Kelly Orchestra is a powerhouse 17-piece big band featuring some of the most gifted musicians in the tri-state area. The group has an extensive playlist and performs a wide variety of musical styles. The Kim Kelly Orchestra’s ongoing mission is to provide their audience with an entertaining, fresh take on big band music that challenges their musicians and excites audiences.

A 24-year-old guitarist, singer, and songwriter from Richmond, Kentucky, Hastings has a unique style that blends country and Americana music. He released his latest album, “Kentucky Sunshine,” in the summer of 2023. He is a two-time recipient of the “Thumbpicker of the Year” award from the National Thumbpicker’s Hall of Fame, has won several national guitar competitions, and was named the 2023 Artist in Residence at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.

Founded in 1943 by Edwin Juergens, William Minnick, and William Fiedler, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and its ensembles perform live symphonic music and provide educational programs for the people of Springfield, Ohio, and the surrounding region. With a dedication to youth, they perform for students from Clark, Greene, Champaign, and Madison counties. These concerts are often the children’s first exposure to symphonic music.

The Foundation invites Holiday Evening’s attendees to dress in their holiday best. The theme of this year’s event is “You Could Even Say It Glows,” so guests can have fun with bright colors, accessories, neon, and more.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. with a performance by the Charger Music Society, followed by music on three stages beginning simultaneously at 6:30 p.m. Concert seating, round tables, and bistro tables will be available at each stage. Guests can enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and liquid refreshments while walking from stage to stage and taking in the festive atmosphere.

A number of sponsors make the 2024 Holiday Evening at Edison State possible, including Gold Sponsors Heather Bailey/Frank Scenna and Park National Bank; Silver Sponsors Bettye & Ray Laughlin and MAPSYS; Bronze Sponsors Ann Baird/Tami Ganley, Crown, EverHeart Hospice, F&M Bank, Ferguson Construction, Fifth Third Bank, French Oil Machinery, HUB International, Klockner Pentaplast, Koenig Equipment, Inc., Marias Technology, Paul G. Duke Foundation, Stan Evans, Tom & Mardie Milligan, Troy Area Chamber of Commerce, Wayne Healthcare Foundation, and Wright Pat Credit Union; and other sponsors Chris Spradlin and The Oskar & Charlotte Buschmann Fund at The Troy Foundation.

A limited number of tickets are available and typically sell out quickly. For more information, email The Edison Foundation or call 937.778.7806. You can also purchase tickets by visiting www.edisonohio.edu/he.