On Sunday, December 13, 2015 guests joined in a festive celebration of the season at the Bohemian National Hall with an exciting variety of holiday presentations and gift market sponsored by the Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association; Consulate General of the Czech Republic; Czech Center New York; and Dvořák American Heritage Association.

DAHA’s Holiday Concert: From Czech Baroque Pastorale to Modern Improvisation featured musicians from New York University in familiar miniatures and rare novelties for piano, guitar, and voice, tracing the Czech pastorale tradition from the Baroque through the Romantic period, and ending in the mid-20th century. The event was curated by Jack Meadow and Michael Beckerman, who performed along with tenor Christopher Patton Nickell.

Another highlight was the Czech Christmas Festival in the historic Ballroom of the Bohemian National Hall, featuring mezzo-soprano Pavlina Horáková and the Children’s Choir of the Czech and Slovak Community Center in Astoria. Christmas carol favorites and family-friendly interactive presentations illuminated Czech holiday traditions. The unusually balmy weather allowed the Christmas market, with traditional Czech glass ornaments, foods, and decorations, to take place on the rooftop terrace. A raffle of Dvořák String Quartet CDs also took place courtesy of Manhattan Quartet and DAHA.

*DAHA Performers and Board Members at Holiday Event. Photo Credit: Nancy Wight*