JChris
37th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards
Kennedy Center
2700 F St NW
Washington, DC 20566
Sep 5, 2024
7:00 PM EDT
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About this concert
WASHINGTON, DC – The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) announced today that the 37th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards (HHAs), will be held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Opera House on Thursday, September 5th, 2024. The HHAs, supported by 40 national Hispanic-serving institutions, were established by The White House in 1988 to commemorate the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month in America, which his why they are often known as “America’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.”
“The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is thrilled to celebrate the Latino community’s accomplishments, cultural pride and our great promise,” said Antonio Tijerino, HHF President and CEO. “We will be honoring our presence in this country – past, present, and future – through dynamic performances, inspirational stories, and solidarity which we will need to continue to move our community and America forward. We are proud to once again call the Kennedy Center home for this momentous occasion.”
The historic HHAs, broadcast nationally on PBS, are not only considered among the highest honors for Latinos by Latinos but also the only Hispanic programming that honors Latino excellence in a variety of categories and disciplines as community and business leaders, entrepreneurs, STEM-related impactors, educators, innovators, public officials, and youth stand alongside celebrities and cultural icons.
Past Awardees have included: Rita Moreno, Sonia Sotomayor, Plácido Domingo, Celia Cruz, Bad Bunny, Tito Puente, Gloria Estefan, Oscar Hijuelos, Ricky Martin, Fania All-Stars, Junot Diaz, José Feliciano, Isabel Allende, Jose Andres, Carlos Vives, Alejandro Sanz, Juanes, Antonio Banderas, Juan Luis Guerra, Anthony Quinn, J Balvin, Zoe Saldana, Juan Marichal, Los Tigres Del Norte, Oscar de la Hoya, America Ferrera, Pedro Martinez, Dr. Ellen Ochoa, Gael Garcia Bernal, Santana, Salma Hayek, Linda Ronstadt, Los Tigres del Norte, Richard “Crazy Legs” Colon, and many others.
“It is quite an honor to have the Hispanic Heritage Awards again choose to make the Kennedy Center its home for celebrating the immense accomplishments and cultural contributions of this year’s awardees. It is during events like this that I am filled with pride knowing that our national cultural center is a platform for sharing the stories and brilliance of those who embody the rich diversity of the arts in America,” said Deborah F. Rutter, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
During this special night, an entertaining and moving production, features the hottest Latino entertainers paying tribute to our distinguished honorees. Last year, the awards ceremony was held and taped for broadcast at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, marking the ninth consecutive year the awards have been presented on PBS. Watch the playlist for last year’s awards HERE & Check out HHF past honorees.
About the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF)
The Hispanic Heritage Awards serve as a launch of HHF’s year-round mission, focused on education, workforce, social impact, and culture through the lens of leadership. HHF is a national nonprofit organization. For more information, visit www.hispanicheritage.org and follow the Hispanic Heritage Foundation on Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok. Listen to the HHF podcast Fritanga on favorite streaming service and HHF YouTube channel.
About The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is America’s living memorial to President Kennedy. Under the guidance of Chairman David M. Rubenstein, and President Deborah F. Rutter, the nine theaters and stages of the nation’s busiest performing arts facility attract more than three million visitors to more than 2,000 performances each year, while center-related touring productions, television, and radio broadcasts reach 40 million more around the world.
The Center produces and presents performances of music, dance, comedy, hip hop, and theater; supports artists in the creation of new work; and serves the nation as a leader in arts education. With its artistic affiliates, the National Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera, the Center has produced more than 300 theatrical productions, and dozens of new ballets, operas, and musical works, in addition to hosting numerous international cultural festivals. The Center’s Emmy® and Peabody Award–winning The Kennedy Center Honors is broadcast annually on CBS and annual The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is broadcast on PBS.
The education programs of the Kennedy Center, including those of its affiliate VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, have become models for communities across the country and have unlocked the door to learning for millions of young people. Education at the Kennedy Center produces and presents age appropriate performances and educational events, and fosters innovative programming, curriculum, and professional development for students, teachers, and families.
The Center and its affiliates stage more than 400 free performances by artists from throughout the world each year on the Center’s main stages, and weekly on its Millennium Stages, which are also streamed live, online. The Center also offers reduced and complimentary tickets to young people, active members of the military, and the underserved through its MyTix program and offers a Specially Priced Tickets program for students, seniors, persons with disabilities, and others with fixed low incomes. To learn more about the Kennedy Center, please visit www.kennedy-center.org.
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Chantal
October 17th 2023
Totally loved this show. JChris is such a talented and versatile artist.
Falls Church, VA@Creative Cauldron
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JChris Biography
Singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer Chris Urquiaga, known as JChris, is lauded for his exciting performance energy and smooth voice. Hailed as “…the next big thing” by Metro Weekly magazine, this Latin pop virtuoso is internationally recognized for his pop compositions which are laced with R&B melodies and Latin rhythms.
With his new rebranding, Chris has already seen great success with the release of his latest singles. His latest single, Caliente (featuring major Latin artist Naldo Benny), has reached over 1 million views on YouTube. Chris’ spotify channel has over 500,000 streams.
Chris has co-arranged and co-produced with JohnnyTechAudio for his new sound as JChris. As a team, they have received critical acclaim for their high-quality and edgy urban tracks. Chris has worked with an international team of professionals including chart-topping superstar Naldo Benny for JChris’ “Caliente” music video, and Yurel Echezarreta from the movie West Side Story (Remake) for JChris’ upcoming LGBT-centered music videos Oportunidad and Dime. A vocal a cappella version of JChris’ Macarena has been made by arranger/composer Tom Anderson, whose arrangements have been featured on NBC’s “The Sing Off”. The vocal a cappella version of Macarena written by Anderson will be released in 2022. Chris has also shared the stage with Stokley Williams of the band Mint Condition.
As a gay Latino artist, Chris had the honor of presenting his own headlining concert at Feinstein’s/54 Below in NYC entitled Latin Music Night, featuring guest artists from Broadway and Television. New York is a city that Chris has fallen in love with. In October 2021, he made his Off-Broadway debut performing his original music at the Triad Theatre for a play entitled Dig Deep. In New York, Chris is a music teacher at the prestigious Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, teaching vocal and instrumental music to middle school and high school students.
Chris loves incorporating different art styles into his music, whether its dance choreography in music videos, or recreating his songs using household items Chris wants to work with the best of the best to make the best content for his fans.
On top of working with such incredible industry professionals, Chris shows his support for the LGBTQ+ community through his continued involvement with local organizations, along with creating his own drag persona, Cara Linda. Cara first made an appearance in the 2020 music video for “Ya Yo Te Olvidé” and continues to make appearances via her personal Instagram page and Chris’s TikTok.
Chris has always been a rising star within the music industry even before adopting the JChris name. After completing the prestigious Artist in Residence program at Strathmore, Chris released his debut album, Complete: a project filled with original tunes with lyrics in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. A year later, he released I’m Here, a collection of velvety ballads and heartfelt lyrics which was celebrated at the Blues Alley, the historic jazz club in Washington, DC.
Chris’ achievements and accolades led him to receive the Montgomery County Hispanic Heritage Month Award for his achievements in the performing arts and for playing a vital role in shaping that community. In 2019, he was the featured performer for the Hispanic Swearing-In Ceremony for the 116th US Congress. That same year, Chris was featured on the cover of Metro Weekly magazine, being described as an artist with a “potent, sweet, and rich voice [with] songwriting skills to match.”
While attending the Eastman School of Music, he composed and performed music for all styles and mediums. His education in music helped him achieve several career milestones including commissions by Congressional Chorus and soprano Carmen Balthrop, and performances for Barack and Michelle Obama at The White House, Feinstein’s/54 Below, and Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Lima, Perú, among other venues in the US, South America, and Europe.
Chris is currently composing a musical comedy about gentrification called “Mr. Manhattan!” with lyricist Jordan Silver in New York City. The musical’s protagonist, like Chris, is also of Brazilian and Peruvian descent.
http://jchrisofficial.com/
www.instagram.com/jchris_music
www.twitter.com/jchrismusic
https://www.facebook.com/jchrismusic
www.youtube.com/user/thehumanipod14
It is no secret that Chris is in a lane of his own with the release of two praise-worthy albums. After completing the prestigious Artist in Residence program at Strathmore, Chris released his debut album, Complete: a project filled with original tunes with lyrics in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. A year later, he released I’m Here, a collection of velvety ballads and heartfelt lyrics which was celebrated at the Blues Alley, the historic jazz club in Washington, DC.
Chris’ achievements and accolades led him to receive the Montgomery County Hispanic Heritage Month Award for his achievements in the performing arts and for playing a vital role in shaping that community. In 2019, he was the featured performer for the Hispanic Swearing-In Ceremony for the 116th US Congress. That same year, Chris was featured on the cover of Metro Weekly magazine, being described as an artist with a “potent, sweet, and rich voice [with] songwriting skills to match.”
While attending the Eastman School of Music, he composed and performed music for all styles and mediums. His education in music helped him achieve several career milestones including commissions by Congressional Chorus and soprano Carmen Balthrop, and performances for Barack and Michelle Obama at The White House, Feinstein’s/54 Below, and Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Lima, Perú, among other venues in the US, South America, and Europe.
Chris is currently composing a musical comedy about gentrification called “Mr. Manhattan!” with lyricist Jordan Silver in New York City.
Read MoreWith his new rebranding, Chris has already seen great success with the release of his latest singles. His latest single, Caliente (featuring major Latin artist Naldo Benny), has reached over 1 million views on YouTube. Chris’ spotify channel has over 500,000 streams.
Chris has co-arranged and co-produced with JohnnyTechAudio for his new sound as JChris. As a team, they have received critical acclaim for their high-quality and edgy urban tracks. Chris has worked with an international team of professionals including chart-topping superstar Naldo Benny for JChris’ “Caliente” music video, and Yurel Echezarreta from the movie West Side Story (Remake) for JChris’ upcoming LGBT-centered music videos Oportunidad and Dime. A vocal a cappella version of JChris’ Macarena has been made by arranger/composer Tom Anderson, whose arrangements have been featured on NBC’s “The Sing Off”. The vocal a cappella version of Macarena written by Anderson will be released in 2022. Chris has also shared the stage with Stokley Williams of the band Mint Condition.
As a gay Latino artist, Chris had the honor of presenting his own headlining concert at Feinstein’s/54 Below in NYC entitled Latin Music Night, featuring guest artists from Broadway and Television. New York is a city that Chris has fallen in love with. In October 2021, he made his Off-Broadway debut performing his original music at the Triad Theatre for a play entitled Dig Deep. In New York, Chris is a music teacher at the prestigious Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, teaching vocal and instrumental music to middle school and high school students.
Chris loves incorporating different art styles into his music, whether its dance choreography in music videos, or recreating his songs using household items Chris wants to work with the best of the best to make the best content for his fans.
On top of working with such incredible industry professionals, Chris shows his support for the LGBTQ+ community through his continued involvement with local organizations, along with creating his own drag persona, Cara Linda. Cara first made an appearance in the 2020 music video for “Ya Yo Te Olvidé” and continues to make appearances via her personal Instagram page and Chris’s TikTok.
Chris has always been a rising star within the music industry even before adopting the JChris name. After completing the prestigious Artist in Residence program at Strathmore, Chris released his debut album, Complete: a project filled with original tunes with lyrics in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. A year later, he released I’m Here, a collection of velvety ballads and heartfelt lyrics which was celebrated at the Blues Alley, the historic jazz club in Washington, DC.
Chris’ achievements and accolades led him to receive the Montgomery County Hispanic Heritage Month Award for his achievements in the performing arts and for playing a vital role in shaping that community. In 2019, he was the featured performer for the Hispanic Swearing-In Ceremony for the 116th US Congress. That same year, Chris was featured on the cover of Metro Weekly magazine, being described as an artist with a “potent, sweet, and rich voice [with] songwriting skills to match.”
While attending the Eastman School of Music, he composed and performed music for all styles and mediums. His education in music helped him achieve several career milestones including commissions by Congressional Chorus and soprano Carmen Balthrop, and performances for Barack and Michelle Obama at The White House, Feinstein’s/54 Below, and Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Lima, Perú, among other venues in the US, South America, and Europe.
Chris is currently composing a musical comedy about gentrification called “Mr. Manhattan!” with lyricist Jordan Silver in New York City. The musical’s protagonist, like Chris, is also of Brazilian and Peruvian descent.
http://jchrisofficial.com/
www.instagram.com/jchris_music
www.twitter.com/jchrismusic
https://www.facebook.com/jchrismusic
www.youtube.com/user/thehumanipod14
It is no secret that Chris is in a lane of his own with the release of two praise-worthy albums. After completing the prestigious Artist in Residence program at Strathmore, Chris released his debut album, Complete: a project filled with original tunes with lyrics in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. A year later, he released I’m Here, a collection of velvety ballads and heartfelt lyrics which was celebrated at the Blues Alley, the historic jazz club in Washington, DC.
Chris’ achievements and accolades led him to receive the Montgomery County Hispanic Heritage Month Award for his achievements in the performing arts and for playing a vital role in shaping that community. In 2019, he was the featured performer for the Hispanic Swearing-In Ceremony for the 116th US Congress. That same year, Chris was featured on the cover of Metro Weekly magazine, being described as an artist with a “potent, sweet, and rich voice [with] songwriting skills to match.”
While attending the Eastman School of Music, he composed and performed music for all styles and mediums. His education in music helped him achieve several career milestones including commissions by Congressional Chorus and soprano Carmen Balthrop, and performances for Barack and Michelle Obama at The White House, Feinstein’s/54 Below, and Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Lima, Perú, among other venues in the US, South America, and Europe.
Chris is currently composing a musical comedy about gentrification called “Mr. Manhattan!” with lyricist Jordan Silver in New York City.
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