For a holiday tradition that began in 2020, Jenny Oaks Baker’s “Joy to the World! A Sacred Christmas Celebration” is scaling up in a meaningful way. The Grammy-nominated violinist and her Family Four ensemble will bring their faith-based production to nine cities across four states this December, featuring more than 500 local performers and a major new addition to the cast.
The tour runs Nov. 28 through Dec. 21, adding soprano Lisa Hopkins Seegmiller, a first Minnesota stop and more than 500 local performers across four states.
Baker, a Billboard-charting artist and former soloist at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, described the seasonal project as deeply personal. “It brings me absolute joy to perform this music and connect with families across the country every Christmas season,” she said. “Being able to share brand-new arrangements like ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ alongside more than 500 local performers, and bringing that experience to new stages and new communities is an unforgettable privilege.”
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Presented by the SoulFill Music Foundation and backed by Zions Bank and the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, the 2026 tour will visit Utah, Idaho, Minnesota and Arizona. The Dec. 11 concert in St. Paul marks the first time the production has ventured into Minnesota. Audiences there and elsewhere will hear a new arrangement of “Sleep Quietly, My Jesus” and “I Wonder as I Wander,” woven among classic carols.
“We are absolutely thrilled to bring the ‘Joy to the World’ tour to the stage this season and share the true, heartwarming spirit of Christmas with our audiences,” said Katie Larsen, executive director of SoulFill Music Foundation. “As a foundation, a core part of our mission is ensuring the magic of this music is accessible to everyone, which is why we’re especially proud to bring this experience to underserved communities across our tour stops.”
Each performance will again feature local choirs and dancers, making the concerts distinct from city to city. “This year’s production is extraordinary,” Larsen added. “We have the privilege of collaborating with more than 500 incredible local choir and dance and even orchestra performers, bringing fresh, local heart to every single venue.” She continued: “We will also be working directly with other non-profits like ShareTix and Vet Tix to make sure a portion of seats go to community members who may not otherwise get to attend such a world-class production, especially at Christmastime. We are grateful to every donor who has made this possible.”
Joining the tour for the first time is soprano Lisa Hopkins Seegmiller, a Tony honoree and Grammy nominee who starred in Baz Luhrmann’s “La Bohème” on Broadway. Baritone Preston Yates, whose rendition of “O Holy Night” has earned standing ovations, returns for his third season and will serve as narrator. The tour also supports the “Light the World” giving initiative.
For tickets, full tour details and performer biographies, visit JennyOaksBaker.com. More information about the foundation can be found at SoulFillMusic.org.
Tour Dates
Nov. 28 — St. George, Utah
Nov. 30 — Idaho Falls, Idaho
Dec. 1 — Salt Lake City, Utah
Dec. 5 — Ogden, Utah
Dec. 7 — Orem, Utah
Dec. 11 — St. Paul, Minn.
Dec. 14 — Burley, Idaho
Dec. 18 — Show Low, Ariz.
Dec. 21 — Mesa, Ariz.
About Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four
America’s Violinist™, Jenny Oaks Baker is a Grammy-nominated, Billboard No. 1 performer and recording artist. Baker has performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Library of Congress and as a guest soloist with the National, Jerusalem, Utah and Pittsburgh symphonies and The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Baker has released 20 studio albums, which have sold over 1 million copies and consistently chart on Billboard. Her music videos have more than 20 million views on YouTube. In her efforts to share the light of Christ with more of God’s children, Baker founded SoulFill Music Foundation to enable her faith-based productions, educational initiatives and musical diplomacy endeavors to reach wider audiences and bring more communities together. Jenny, her husband, Matt, and their four children (Family Four) are from Salt Lake City.
Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four have performed with orchestras including the Utah Symphony, the Millennial Choirs and Orchestras and The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. They have performed throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa. Their debut album, “Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four,” hit No. 4 on the Billboard Classical and Classical Crossover charts. Their Christmas album, “Joy to the World,” debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard charts.
Laura plays the violin and lives in Oregon with her husband and their two children. Hannah received her bachelor’s degree in piano performance from the Royal Academy of Music and a master’s degree in répétiteurship at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Sarah attends the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, studying cello performance. Matthew plays classical and electric guitar and is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Antofagasta, Chile.
Jenny and her children have performed together as a family since each child started playing their instrument between the ages of 3 and 4. Matt Baker, Jenny’s husband, is a business executive and helps to produce the family and foundation productions.
Lisa Hopkins Seegmiller
Soprano Lisa Hopkins Seegmiller made her Broadway debut at 24 as Baz Luhrmann’s leading lady in his production of Puccini’s “La Bohème,” earning a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre. She later received a Grammy nomination for best opera recording for “Volpone.” A graduate of Yale University and the Manhattan School of Music, she has crossed from opera into musical theater, pop and rock, with roles including Grizabella in “Cats” and the Narrator in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
Preston Yates
Baritone Preston Yates performed the national premieres of “The Count of Monte Cristo” as the Count, “Zorro: The Musical” as Ramon and “The Redeemer: Music on the Life of Jesus the Christ” as Peter. He was also featured on a Broadway Records album for the new musical “Song of Solomon” and has been a featured soloist at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center.
Jay Nygaard
Jay is a passionate, driven artist and advocate for the arts from Southern Utah. He is executive director of Artistic Resource for Teachers and Students (A.R.T.S.) Inc. He is in his 15th season as a member of the Tuacahn Center for the Arts Orchestra and is an active performer in numerous other groups and projects.
Media
Katie Larsen
Executive Director
SoulFill Music Foundation 501(c)(3)
katie.larsen@soulfillmusic.org
Jason Wright
Jason Wright Publicity
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Official 2026 “Joy to the World” Trailer – Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four ft Lisa Hopkins Seegmiller
Why it matters: By weaving together a Grammy-nominated headliner, a Broadway-honored soprano, and hundreds of local performers across four states, this tour demonstrates a model for making high-quality, faith-based holiday programming accessible to both underserved communities and general audiences. The expansion into Minnesota and the inclusion of nonprofit ticketing partners further underline a shift toward regional equity in live performance.
