The New School Studio Orchestra kicks off the holiday season with their second annual Holiday Swing – an evening of joy, jazz, and timeless holiday tunes!

This festive concert highlights Ella Fitzgerald’s two beloved Christmas albums that capture the swing and sparkle of the season, and arrangements from Jazz at Lincoln Center’s holiday repertoire, performed by The New School Studio Orchestra.

Special Guest: Brianna Thomas, The New School alum and celebrated vocalist -

"Ms. Thomas has a strong voice and a big range, descended from Sarah Vaughan and Betty Carter and routed through Dianne Reeves, with clarity and confidence and a little dirt."

- Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

Gather with friends and family to celebrate the season with a night of swinging holiday cheer, performed by some of today’s brightest emerging artists.

FREE WITH REGISTRATION WHILE SEATS LAST.

About The New School Studio Orchestra

Conducted by Keller Coker, the New School Studio Orchestra (NSSO) is comprised of students from the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music and Mannes School of Music, often with guest artists, performing music from a wide variety of genres including jazz, soul, pop, and improvised music.

The thrilling U.S. premiere of Carla Bley’s Escalator Over the Hill was the epic close to last season. The New York Times described the musicians as playing with “rattling intensity," adding "The sound seemed to shudder like a pot about to blow its lid." All About Jazz stated, "Presenting a cherished '70s cult jazz-rock album in its U.S. performance debut was a highwire act of artistic bravery, yet the New School ensemble triumphed over the odds. This was very much a student performance, even if its stellar standard forced you to frequently—and delightedly—remind yourself of that improbable fact." And in the words of UK Jazz News: “The student band impressively embodied Bley’s gonzo vision. This was a worthy and deeply enjoyable ride on Escalator Over the Hill, and a historic moment to boot.”

The 2025/2026 season offers a remarkable lineup, beginning with the inimitable 1930s Radio Night. The Grammy-winning Fandango at the Wall features The New School’s Arturo O’Farrill, his Afro Latin Jazz Octet, and The Conga Patria Son Jarocho Collective. The second annual NSSO Holiday Swing ushers in the holiday season in December, featuring music from Ella Fitzgerald’s beloved Christmas albums and Jazz at Lincoln Center holiday arrangements, with special guest Brianna Thomas. March brings the Blue Note Records All Stars Evening, featuring James Francies, Joel Ross, and others. The season culminates in May with Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – A Motown Tribute, with special guests to be announced, featuring music by The Temptations, The Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, and more.

Presented by the College of Performing Arts at The New School.