When the curtain comes up on the Shelia Jackson & Friends Holiday Concert Friday night at the Claudia Crosby Theater, three young musicians will be featured among the cast of seasoned performers. About 20 other young performers will take the stage as members of the Children’s Chorus.

Patrick Jackson, a senior at Troy University, Malachi Everett, an eighth-grader at Banks Middle School, and Gabbie Jackson, a sixth-grader at Troy Elementary School will take center stage during the annual holiday concert.

Patrick Jackson is a popular performer on the soprano saxophone, which he has been playing for 11 years. Jackson is a theater major at Troy University and has traveled to Pietrasanta, Italy with a university theater group to participate in the Danza in Arts Festival.

“Playing in Italy was a unique experience,” Jackson said. “We performed all around the city, indoors and on the city streets, and there was also the Gala event. It was a great learning experience. “

Jackson also plays the piano and plays often for events at the Johnson Center for the Arts in Troy as well at special events in the area.

Jackson plays most any music but his personal favorites are jazz and R&B.

Everett has been “playing” drums seemingly all his life.

“I got my first set of drums when I was two years old,” he said. “I don’t know what it is about drums. I just like to play them, whether it’s on stage or in church.”

Everett has played drums in Jackson’s holiday concert for the kids’ performance,” but Friday night, he will be “the” drummer and play the entire concert.

“I’m excited to get this opportunity and I’m working hard to be ready,” he said. “I usually play gospel and R&B so some of this music will be different, especially the show tunes. I’m really looking forward to the concert.”

As for Gabbie Jackson, she will be very comfortable on the keyboard and participating in the concert, which she has done before when she played a duet with Henry Terry.

“I’ve been playing since I was four or five. I played by ear then,” Jackson said. “Now, I play more by book. I like playing by ear best and I like gospel music.”

On Friday night, Jackson will be featured on “Mary Did You Know?” which is a beautiful song and one of her favorites, whether she plays by ear or by book.”

The trio of young performers will be joined on stage by the Children’s Chorus of about 20, Shelia Jackson said.

“Kimberly McCray a senior at Charles Henderson High School, will be the drummer for the Children’s Chorus,” she said. “We are always excited to have young people in the holiday concert. We have so much talent in the Troy area and we want to showcase it to the community.”

Jackson expressed appreciation to the Troy Arts Council members and to Joel Williams, council president, for their continual support of the annual holiday concert and the arts in Pike County.

“The arts are important to our community, as they are to all communities,” Jackson said. “We are fortunate to have the Troy Arts Council and we thank the council for all it does to further the arts in Troy and Pike County.

A few tickets for the Shelia Jackson & Friends Holiday Concert are still available. For ticket information, contact the Troy Tourism Office at 282-9574.