Poinsettia Pops
Ring in the holiday season with this cherished annual tradition! Featuring festive orchestral favorites and special guest artists, “Poinsettia Pops” is a joyful celebration of the sounds of the season, perfect for the whole family.
Don’t miss the pre-concert talk with our guest artists and Artistic Director/Conductor Glen Cortese an hour before each performance at UPH! It’s an excellent way to learn more about the music and an opportunity to ask questions about the performance. All are invited to attend.
Tickets are $17–$24. Children under 18 are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
Run time: 2 hours
Guest artist:
Kimberly Hawkey‘s voice is a time machine. Jazz, Broadway, folk – she effortlessly blends genres, transporting audiences to worlds of beauty with each crystalline note. Whether solo, fronting her band, or singing with an orchestra, her captivating and cinematic voice offers a vintage soul nourishment that transcends the modern age.
A Johnny Mercer Award winner and Gold Medalist at the American Traditions Vocal Competition, Kimberly has also conquered the NYC Cabaret Showdown twice. She’s graced iconic venues like Birdland, Zinc Bar, and the Iridium, equally mesmerizing with her dulcet voice or adding banjo, piano, washboard, and even mouth-trumpet when the song demands it.
Carrying the torch of timeless Big Band magic, Kimberly’s velvety voice has soared alongside some of the greatest names in vintage jazz. In 2021, she made her debut with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, fulfilling a long-held dream. It was on that legendary bandstand where Kimberly met New England trombonist, arranger, and bandleader Dan Gabel. Their collaboration blossomed into the joyful Christmas album, “Snowed In!” backed by Mr. Gabel’s powerhouse Abletones Big Band.
Kimberly’s dynamic presence has attracted invitations from other NYC-based ensembles like the Glenn Crytzer Orchestra, the New York All-Star Big Band, Terry Waldo and the Gotham City Band, Danny Jonukuchi and the Revisionists, Danny Lipsitz and His Brass Tracks, and Gordon Au and the Grand St. Stompers. Whether channeling the golden age of swing or adding her own fresh interpretations, Kimberly’s talent transcends generations, proving that the love for vintage music resonates as fiercely as ever.
This devotion spills over into Kimberly’s work as a music educator and events producer, all under her “Elvanelle Music” banner (“story through song”). Elvanelle concerts, programs, and special-event music entertain, unite communities, and reframe the past through a modern lens. She has mentored dozens of singers through her signature “Muse Mentoring“ experience, providing a transformative, holistic approach to performance. Her community of “Visionary Vocalists“ gather virtually from all over the world to develop their craft and uncover their most authentic voices.
Six genre-spanning albums showcase her versatility: the swinging “Music of the Night” and “All Aboard!” with The Swingaroos, and the intimate “Elvanelle & the Escape Act” featuring her solo chanteuse magic. But Kimberly isn’t just a chameleon; she’s a storyteller. Her wildly entertaining theme shows, threading vaudeville through golden-age Hollywood, Broadway hits, or the Great American Songbook, prove that music and connection are her true north.
This passion led Kimberly to “We the Nighthawks,” a 13-track original album born in the 2020 lockdown through songwriters Morris & Rivers. It’s a tapestry of art song, jazz, and musical theatre, with each track a canvas for Kimberly’s ability to embody diverse archetypal voices. Grammy-winning producer Joel Moss and musical director Assaf Gleizner lend their expertise, while a full orchestra adds depth to both the “Nighthawks” 2020 release and the team’s 2021 Christmas album, “A New Noel.”
Praise rolls in: BroadwayWorld calls her “delightfully fresh,” Cabaret Scenes hails her “exceptional musicality,” and New York Music Daily cheers The Swingaroos’ “irrepressibly cheery update on 30s and 40s sounds.”
Currently based in Worcester, MA, Kimberly maintains a regular performing schedule across New York City, the Hudson Valley, Catskills with tours across the US. She also shares her 15+ years of teaching experience through 1:1 voice and piano lessons, workshops, masterclasses, and even MDs cabarets and theatrical productions.
Kimberly Hawkey isn’t just a singer; she’s a weaver of timelessness, a storyteller with a voice that bridges generations and genres. So, lend an ear, and let her transport you to a world where music truly transcends time.