I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a safe and happy Holiday Season. It has been such a pleasure to share this blog with you.

I hope all of you realize how important you are to the success of this blogging site. I love reading your comments – they alway make me smile.

But, more important, I have come to realize that you are an intelligent, very caring and most loyal group of individuals.

It is comforting to know that you value high quality and innovative music as much as I do.

May the blessings and spirit of Christmas be with you and yours 365 days a year.

This video of David Archuleta performing Silent Night with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra has to be the most compelling, passionate and inspiring performance of this song classic I have ever had the pleasure to see and hear.

Recorded live last Christmas and set to air on PBS on Tuesday, December 13th from 8:00-9:00 P.M., David’s arrangement of this beautiful carol is nothing short of exceptional.

His phrasing, inflection, his lyrical, seamless vocal quality and expressive interpretation, are absolutely sublime. His face is radiant throughout this song and genuinely expresses the meaning of the lyrics in every verse.

Watch how his demeanor changes for each verse. It is very evident in the third verse, where his facial expression and body language mirrors the text so very well. He wears his joy and happiness on his sleeve. It really is remarkable.

David has released a CD and DVD with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir called Glad Christmas Tidings.

It is an absolutely exquisite “watch and listen”, capturing the spirit of Christmas through stellar vocal and instrumental performances.

It is available for hard copy or digital purchase from Amazon.com or via ITunes.

But do yourself a favor right now and listen to the video below. It is an excellent way to begin your week and to be reminded where the meaning of Christmas truly lives and breathes.

Update: You can also order Glad Christmas Tidings DVD from Deseret Book for $18.74, free shipping code, 12DaysFree

Also, I was just informed by one of my readers, Janey, that Silent Night is NOT included on the PBS special. So, if you want to enjoy the entire show, you better order yourself the DVD tout suite!

This video featuring David Archuleta performing his original composition, “My Kind Of Christmas” brought such a smile to my face. The melody and the lyrics are brimming with the spirit and joy of the Christmas season and David’s performance captures the magic of the Christmas season so well.

Presently on a Christmas Tour with his “My Kind Of Christmas” show, David is following his own career path with the vision and passion he brought to American Idol Season Seven.

He has a very intelligent, strategic plan regarding his career, knowing full well that there is huge audience out there ready to embrace him with open arms.

To follow your dreams without the security blanket of a record label takes courage and maturity.

And, as David said, being tied to a record label is very restrictive for, given the nature of today’s music industry, it can be an erratic and disloyal partnership.

David has released a CDand DVD with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir called Glad Christmas Tidings.

It is an absolutely exquisite “watch and listen”, capturing the spirit of Christmas through stellar vocal and instrumental performances.

It is available for hard copy or digital purchase from Amazon.com or via ITunes.

Also, author Pamela Pike’s book, “Through Our Eyes, is the perfect reading complement to this CD and DVD. You can purchase Through Our Eyes: A Fan’s Perspective on Artist David Archuleta At Barnes And Noble or at Amazon.Com

Enjoy the video featured below and make sure you share the joy in the comments section!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Just the thought and anticipation of Michael Buble’s new Christmas album, “Christmas”, makes me want to deck my halls with boughs of holly in August.

And, even more exciting is this news from Michael’s Official Website:

“To celebrate the release of Michael’s upcoming Christmas album, he will be headlining his first network television variety special on NBC in December. Produced by Ben Silverman (“The Office,” “Ugly Betty”) and Lorne Michaels (NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” “30 Rock”), the one-hour special will feature Michael as he performs hits from his latest Christmas album combined with sketch comedy segments. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!”

Finally, a Christmas special I can relate to! December used to be chock full of these specials so I hope we see more of them in the future.

Michael is one of my favorite vocalists on this planet. His communicative and expressive golden voice is something that we don’t hear and see too often in today’s music.

Michael doesn’t need gimmicks, tricks, smoke or mirrors to sell his music on stage. His captivating and charming personality, combined with his seamless, velvet vocal quality, captures the hearts and minds of his listeners time and time again.

Personally, I could listen to his CDs all day and never get bored. I always find new and exciting vocal nuggets tucked inside each track, which I relay to the singers whom I coach. He is an exceptional role model for aspiring young singers everywhere.

Singing from your heart and then wearing your heart on your sleeve is what inspires and Michael has always demonstrated this very fact from Day One.

Congratulations Michael and, from all of us here in the MCL Community, thank you for being such a reassuring and genuine presence in the music industry.

So, how many of you will be purchasing multiple copies of Michael’s CD? I can’t think of a better gift.

You can visit their YouTube.Com page here. But, until then enjoy the video below.  It is a guaranteed “day -brightener“.

Now that the Christmas and Holiday season is in full swing, I thought I would add a special sticky post, so that everyone can share the joy of the season and everything it has to offer.

You are welcome to add links to your favorite performances, favorite songs, favorite food (yum) and so much more, so please stop by and share your memories with us at MasterclassLady.Com.

Below you will see some articles I have written, highlighting some exceptional seasonal performances by some of my favorite singers. I hope you enjoy these performances as much as I do and I will add many more as the holiday season intensifies – ooo, I love that word!

This Holiday Blog is now open for comments

His interpretation of this beloved classic carol was absolutely gorgeous and I especially fell in love with his creative melodic twists to the original melody during the second verse. It was just beautiful and truly came from the depths of his soul. This is how this song was intended to be sung – with reverence and respect for the lyrics.

David’s performance was tasteful, sincere and ringing with a consummate blend of vocal artistry and technical skills. His sustaining ability, coupled with his liberated soulful style, always ceases to amaze me – it is absolutely stellar.

Magnificent Masterclass performance David! Bravo!

Below, you will hear a portion of their Christmas medley performed during the “ Cavalcade Of Lights” on November 30th in Toronto, Ontario Canada.

The audio recording in this video does not do justice to the exquisite beauty of their individual and combined voices. Their harmonies are spectacular and the solo voices of these very talented gentlemen are extremely genre-friendly.

These singers have mastered the ability to move seamlessly through pop, classical, folk, Celtic, Broadway – something that the majority of classical artists have failed to accomplish.

You can purchase their CD at the Canadian Amazon Site or at Chapters.Indigo.Ca

So, until the CD comes in, enjoy the video – not the best quality, but you’ll get the general idea. Brilliance!

I thought it would neat to provide a link to the various feast days that are revered by every person of every faith at this time of year. Is it any wonder that, come January, we are all exhausted? But, it certainly is a magical time of year and I wait in child-like anticipation each year for December to arrive. Doesn’t everbody?

So, my “Masterclass” writing has taken a backseat to the visits and dinners and concerts and musical preparations that inevitably coincide during the latter part of November and all of December.

I have yet to review David Archuleta’s and David Cook’s CDs, although there are a couple of articles below this one about their recording success.

This will happen, along with a review of The Canadian Tenors’ glorious new CD, as well as more news about Jaydee Bixby and a follow-up to Matt Humphrey’s video.

And could someone bring me up to date on Jason Castro’s activities? When is he going to sing to us again via the internet? I want to hear some soulful holiday music from Jason and David A. -a duet, perhaps?

And stay tuned for a Masterclass review of the outstanding new holiday CD, Remember December, by Canadian a cappella group, The Essentials. I just saw them in concert with the Timmins Concert Singers and they rocked the house “big time”. Love you guys!

So, as you can see, I will be a busy little Masterclass elf, won’t I? So, thank you for your patience and to all my American friends, Happy Thanksgiving.