Celine Dion tribute concert coming to Indian Wells Theater on Dec. 20

Tribute
artist and Palm Springs native Brigitte Valdez will perform as Celine Dion at
the Indian Wells Theater at Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus on
Friday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m.

Valdez
will join the Xavier College Prep High School choir for a special holiday
concert.

Valdez is a mix of Greek, Spanish,
Italian and French ancestry, and was born in Hollywood, the movie capital of
the world. Raised in the desert oasis of Palm Springs, she is now fulfilling
her lifetime dream of entertaining audiences. Beginning when she was old enough
to stand on a wooden bench in her living room, Valdez has been belting out
notes to songs from Barbara Streisand, Whitney Houston, Sandi Patti, Aretha
Franklin, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. Singing professionally, she has toured
the United States and abroad, performing in more than 30 arenas, for various
major conventions, and as a stellar opening act. 

Since 2002, “Legends in Concert”
has kept Valdez very busy, using her world-class voice to take on the persona
of the electrifying Celine Dion. In an industry where imitation is considered
the sincerest form of flattery, Valdez paints the most definitive portrayal of
Dion. She first showcased her skills on Dick Clark’s “Your Big Break” at the
NBC Studios in Burbank. More recently, she appeared on, and was voted into the
semi-finals of one season, the highly acclaimed television show, “The Next Best
Thing.” These international breaks have led Valdez to perform in Las Vegas,
Atlantic City, Branson, Myrtle Beach, Florida, Lake Tahoe and Osaka,
Japan. 

Performing live, however, is not
Valdez’s only forte. She has recorded several solo releases at Paramount
Pictures and Warner Brothers, and is featured in many radio and television
commercials. With very little effort, this songbird regularly captivates her
listeners with her divine voice, inspiring all who hear her sing.

The
Xavier Choir from Palm Desert is made up of high school sophomores, juniors and
seniors. Bringing together students from all athletic teams and clubs, the
choir offers students an opportunity to grow as a community of musicians,
performers and persons of faith. While studying choral music, from Gregorian
Chant to the 21st century, the Xavier Choir provides music for school masses
and community events. The choir has sung at the Gardens at El Paseo, the Forest
Lawn Memorial Day Service, Spotlight 29, and gives an annual series of
Christmas concerts at retirement communities through Companion Visitation
Ministries. The choir is currently fundraising for an international tour of
Jesuit schools in Australia in the summer of 2014. The choir is directed by
Stephanie DePrez, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame's performance
program in classical voice.

Tickets are $35 or $40 and can be
purchased by calling the Indian Wells Theater box office at (760) 341-6909.
Parking is included in the ticket price.

Proceeds
from the show support the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, which enrolled its first
freshman class this fall.

The
Indian Wells Theater at Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus is
located at 37-500 Cook St.

For
more information about upcoming concerts and other events, visit the Indian
Wells Theater website at www.IWTheater.com.