For over 62 years, generations of faithful patrons have declared that “Christmas begins with the
Marionettes!”

The famed Marionettes Chorale returns to Queen’s Hall’s Winifred Atwell Auditorium from December 5 to December 7, inviting audiences to ring in the season with their beloved holiday tradition. This concert series continues to warm hearts across the country.

Across three public performances and one special matinée exclusively for care homes, the Marionettes’ adult and youth choirs will present a joyful and soul-stirring programme of local and international Christmas favourites. Patrons can expect a rich blend of traditional carols, classical, gospel, musical theatre, calypso, parang, and other seasonal selections – a showcase of musical excellence and vocal prowess they’ve come to expect from the chorale.

The programme also features some of the nation’s most beloved soloists — from Jacqueline Johnson to Debbie Nahous, Errol James, Khadija Huggins, among others, plus talented rising stars from the Youth Chorale.

They will also be joined by two very special guests: tenor Nigel Floyd, and Payge Turner — the multi-talented singer, songwriter and musician who competed in Season 19 of NBC’s ‘The Voice‘.

She joins her mother, Jacqueline Johnson, onstage to perform a piece she specially arranged for this concert.

Leading the choirs this season are artistic and musical director Gretta Taylor, Joshua Joseph, and guest conductor Dr Nathan Nagir, a Trinidad-born musician and current faculty member at Texas State University’s School of Music. Dr Nagir made a memorable impression during the chorale’s Rejoice series earlier last July, and his return promises to bring fresh energy and flair to this year’s holiday performances.

This dynamic trio’s passion and precision continue to shape the chorale’s signature sound while nurturing the next generation of musical leadership.

Founded in 1963 and incorporated as a non-profit in 2005, the Marionettes Chorale is one of the Caribbean’s most distinguished performing arts groups. With a legacy spanning six decades, they have earned acclaim at home and abroad, premiered works by Caribbean and international composers, toured internationally and produced eight full-length recordings. Their Christmas concert is a cultural fixture, drawing audiences of all ages who return year after year to begin their season with the Marionettes.

As always, the series includes a special weekend matinée for care homes across the country, reflecting the chorale’s enduring commitment to outreach and community service.

Performances conclude today, starting at 5:00 pm Trinidad time. Tickets are TT$200 for open seating, TT$300 for reserved and TT$400 for premium reserved.