Award winning artist to perform traditional and original holiday music

This Saturday Dec. 12, singer/songwriter Danan Healy will be performing a Christmas concert at the Dewitt Community Church, in the first of two Christmas concerts to be held in the central New York region. The concert begins at noon, and Healy, who plays guitar, will be accompanied by Paul Osterman on piano.

The church is hosting Healy’s performance of both traditional and original Christmas music to support her 2008 album “Christmas Time Rocks,” which features traditional Christmas favorites, jazz arrangements of holiday standards, and two of Healy’s own original tunes, including the title track.

Healy’s musical career includes a five-year stint in the Soldiers’ Chorus of The US Army Field Band, a rock band in Baltimore, and her own solo career in New York City. A classically trained graduate of The Eastman School of Music, she started writing songs for her band in Baltimore six years ago.

“When I realized that I could write and sing popular music, I never looked back,” said Healy, who moved to Syracuse with her husband Clifford Tsan in 2008.

Healy has been dedicated to writing and performing her own music ever since, releasing three CDs in the last three years, including the Christmas album.

“Christmas music has always been my favorite, so this album was a huge pleasure for me to produce,” she said.

In early 2009, Healey won first place in B&G Music’s Singer/Songwriter Showdown II in Baldwinsville.

Advanced tickets are available through Paula Healy at 737-0072 or [email protected], and cost $10 for adults or $5 for children age 5-17 (children 4 and under get in free). Tickets at the door will cost an additional $2.

The second concert will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday Dec. 19 at the New Hartford First United Methodist Church.

‘Christmas Time Rocks’ will be available for purchase at the conclusion of the concerts and comes packaged as an attractive Christmas card.