Pittsburgh talent shines in 'A Benedum Christmas — Home for the Holidays'

An abundance of homegrown talent will be celebrating the season at “A Benedum Christmas — Home for the Holidays,” an annual concert featuring performers who are proud of their Pittsburgh roots.

The festive showcase of vocalists, songwriters and musicians with ties to the city will take place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Benedum Center, sponsored by Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in partnership with Pittsburgh Winery.

Tim Gaber is winemaker and owner of the boutique urban winery located in the Strip District, where the annual concert originated seven years ago as a way to bring people together for a good cause and a musical celebration during the holidays.

“This is our third year at the Benedum and the level of talent we have here is amazing,” says Gaber, who is producing the show and serving as emcee.

Homecoming concert

A musician himself, he said the homecoming concert “means a lot to me and really is the best thing I’ve been involved with in the entertainment field. We try to choose songs that strike a chord emotionally. That’s what the holidays are all about.”

Each of the featured acts will perform their rendition of a classic holiday tune in addition to one of their own original songs.

Some of the performers, like actress and singer/songwriter Pittsburgh native Margot Bingham, who grew up in Scott Township, will have their own contingent of friends and family in the audience.

Bingham, best known for her television work on NBC’s “New Amsterdam” in its second season, the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire,” ABC’s “The Family” and CBS’s “Blue Bloods,” is the daughter of former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Craig Bingham.

She said her dad and mother, Lynne Bingham, will be attending the show at the Benedum.

After graduating from the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and attending Point Park University where she studied musical theater, Bingham moved to New York City, where she appeared in the 2011 off-Broadway revival of “Rent.”

She said Pittsburgh has a good reputation with artists she knows who have performed locally.

“Everyone that’s traveled here loved the people and the town,” she said. “There’s a good pulse in the city. Its reputation is mostly artistic and beautiful.”

More headliners

Other featured performers in “A Benedum Christmas — Home for the Holidays” will include:

Scott Blasey, solo artist and lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for The Clarks; Billy Price, solo artist, also with the Keystone Rhythm Band and the Billy Price Band; Morgan Erina, singer-songwriter, a New York City native who has lived in Pittsburgh for 10 years; pianist and vocalist Joy Ike; singer-songwriter/guitarist James “Jimbo” Jackson; Anthony Jardine, singer- songwriter from Pittsburgh; John Schisler, singer for the Pittsburgh band, New Invisible Joy and R&B artists Lyndsey Smith and Soul Distribution.

Featured musicians will be comprised of Trio+, The Steeltown Horns and Buffalo Rose bands.

Pre-show wine tasting reception

A ticket for a wine tasting reception one hour before show time will be available for an additional charge starting at $54. The ticket includes one admission to the performance, a guided wine tasting from Pittsburgh Winery, a glass of the favorite wine selection and a one-year introductory Partners membership with Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Food bank donations

The Benedum Center lobby will be a donation location to benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank during “A Benedum Christmas — Home for the Holidays.” Most-needed donations include diapers, laundry detergent, paper products, pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, dried or canned beans, pouched or canned tuna, rice and instant mashed potatoes. Perishable food and items packaged in glass cannot be accepted.