Thirteen up! Emily Bear & the Performance Santa Fe Orchestra

Thirteen- year- old pianist and composer Emily Bear is already deep into her career. She began composing when she was three; really got rolling professionally at four, when a noted national publisher started releasing her music; and made her debut as a solo pianist at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival with a 40-minute recital of classical music, jazz, and original compositions at five. At six, she appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (her first of six visits there), which lifted her to national celebrity. She currently works with several private teachers in Chicago and New York, honing her skills in piano performance and jazz improvisation. She’ll join the Performance Santa Fe Orchestra, conducted by Joseph Illick, for that group’s annual Christmas Eve concert, performing as the soloist in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and playing some of her own compositions. Also on the program is Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. The concert takes place at the Lensic Performing Arts Center (211 W. San Francisco St.) on Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 5 p.m., following a “family preview” open rehearsal at 2 p.m. Tickets ($27 to $100 for the concert, $10 and $25 for the family preview) are available by calling 505-988-1234 or visiting www.ticketssantafe.org. — James M. Keller