The Conrad O. Johnson Music & Fine Arts Foundation will host a two-day celebration marking 25 years of service to Houston-area youth.
Holiday Joy: Bright Notes for Brighter Futures is the official name of the two-day happening.
The events, which will be held at the Ballroom at Tanglewood, 5430 Westheimer Court, 77056, open on Saturday, December. 20, beginning at 9 a.m., with a free master class by the award-winning Laws Family (Eloise, Ronnie, and Debra) and led by three-time Grammy nominee and National Endowment for the Arts lifetime achievement award winner, Hubert Laws.
On Sunday, the celebration will continue with a star-studded Scholarship Brunch and Concert, including the Miola Laws Scholarship for Academic Achievement Award. The concert will feature the Laws Family, our own Artist-In-Residence, Joe Carmouhe, Kyle Turner, and the Conrad O. Johnson Regional Youth Ensemble, directed by OluToyin Onayemi and assisted by Cliff Gordon.
“As part of our 25 years of empowering Houston-area youth through education and music excellence, this is a rare opportunity for our students to receive additional tools, training, and discipline and gain experience as musicians and leaders from living legends.”
Artie Onayemi, executive director of the Conrad O. Johnson Music & Fine Arts Foundation
“As part of our 25 years of empowering Houston-area youth through education and music excellence, this is a rare opportunity for our students to receive additional tools, training, and discipline and gain experience as musicians and leaders from living legends,” said Artie Onayemi, executive director of the Conrad O. Johnson Music & Fine Arts Foundation. “This festive weekend blends world-class artistry, youth excellence, and holiday spirit in support of the Foundation’s scholarship and education programs.”
The event serves as the foundation’s signature fundraiser for the year. The Conrad O. Johnson Music & Fine Arts Foundation recruits Houston-area high school students to become part of the Conrad O. Johnson Regional Youth Orchestra (CJRYO).
Please assist us in providing an unforgettable weekend by becoming an event sponsor, providing in-kind services and gifts (e.g., raffle items, door prizes), or purchasing a table for $1,000.00, which includes a table of ten for the event.
The CJRYO provides a platform for young musicians to develop and showcase their artistic skills, unique to the jazz idiom.
Weekly rehearsals and public performances throughout the academic year provide students with an additional motivation to lead and perform within the community, as well as at the national level.
Armani Holmes, a 2025 graduate of HSPVA, is currently a freshman at DePaul University in Chicago. Holmes earned a full-ride scholarship based on her mastery of the saxophone. A huge part of her growth as a musician came from her three years as a member of the CJRYO.
“The orchestra gave me my foundation,” said Holmes. “It taught me how to listen, how to blend, and how to take responsibility for my role, which prepared me for the expectations of HSPVA.
“That experience helped me move confidently into every musical space after that.”
The celebration continues on Sunday, Dec. 21, with the annual Holiday Joy Concert, held at The Ballroom at Tanglewood in Houston. Doors open at 1:30 p.m., followed by a reception at 2 p.m. and the concert at 3 p.m.
To register for the free master class with the Laws family and/or to purchase tickets to the Sunday concert, visit https://www.conradjohnsonfoundation.org/events/2025/12/21/holiday-joy-2025.
