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By Mabel Pais
AVERY SUNSHINE, 2025 GRAMMY® winner will captivate audiences with her smooth, vibrant, radiating power and joyful vocal music at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on January 16, 2026.
Join in the celebration of Avery Sunshine’s GRAMMY® win! She was honored with the award for Best Progressive R&B Album in 2025 for her latest project, ‘So Glad to Know You’ (SGTKY). The GRAMMY® awards will be presented on February 1, 2026.
Be enchanted by Avery’s incredible voice — smooth, vibrant, and filled with power and joy. Her original songs are inspired by ’90s R&B, gospel, jazz, and neo-soul, all infused with contemporary lyrics. When Avery Sunshine sings, everyone shines. Her sound is uplifting and vibrant, perfectly embodying her name — filled with sunshine. She brings people together through her captivating stage performances, frank and often humorous banter, and uplifting anthems about love and life.
Born Denise White in Chester, Pennsylvania, her musical roots are deeply embedded in the church. Together with her Grammy Award-winning creative partner, Dana “BigDane” Johnson, who is a singer, pianist, and composer, Avery has crafted an unforgettable sound.
Avery’s signature soulful R&B style has earned her accolades from legendary artists, including Aretha Franklin, who exclaimed, “I love Avery Sunshine!” She has also received praise from icons such as Patti LaBelle, Berry Gordy, and Boy George, who expressed on Twitter, “@averysunshine love this woman’s voice.” Most recognized for her #1 Billboard chart hit single “Call My Name” from her acclaimed sophomore album *The Sunroom*, Avery and Dana were honored with ASCAP’s Rhythm and Soul Song of the Year Award.
Among her numerous awards and nominations are nods for both the Soul Train Award and the BET Centric Award. Avery has achieved significant milestones in her career, including sold-out shows, a UK tour opening for the late B.B. King, a performance on The Jools Holland Show, and four top 20 Billboard hits in the Hot Adult R&B category. As an endorsed artist with the Yamaha Entertainment family, she was honored to perform multiple times for and alongside the late Aretha Franklin.
TICKETS
For tickets to witness the extraordinary voice of Avery Sunshine, visit NJPAC.org or the NJPAC Box Office or call 888. GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).
Avery Sunshine
Learn more at averysunshine.com and sogladtoknowyou.com (SGTKY).
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PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST EVER STAGE SPECTACULAR OF ‘BRAINS ON!’
- By Mabel Pais
**BRAINS ON!’ YOUR BRAIN IS MAGIC!** is the brand-new stage spectacular of the wildly popular kids’ science podcast ‘Brains On!’ This will be presented at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on January 17, 2026 at 3 PM.
NJPAC is excited to welcome this hilarious, high-energy, science-themed show which transforms the stage into a mind-bending adventure through the human brain — perfect for curious kids, families, and anyone who loves to learn through laughter. Brains On!® is a science podcast for curious kids and adults from Brains On Universe.
Each week, a different kid co-host joins Molly Bloom to find answers to fascinating questions about the world sent in by listeners. Like, do dogs know they’re dogs? Or, why do feet stink? Plus, we have mystery sounds for you to guess, songs for you to dance to, and lots of facts — all checked by experts.
‘Brains On’ is hitting the road with a hilarious science-themed show that takes the audience on an adventure through our brains.
Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, and Sanden Totten will be there with magic tricks, dance moves, out-of-body experiences, mystery sounds, and even a game show!
All the while, kids (and their grown-ups) learn how our brains take a handful of signals from the eyes and ears and turn them into a vibrant picture of the world.
Join beloved hosts Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, and Sanden Totten as they bring the award-winning podcast to life with interactive fun, unforgettable characters, and jaw-dropping science surprises. Packed with magic tricks, dance moves, mystery sounds, out-of-body experiences, and even a full-on game show, this immersive performance turns complex scientific ideas into excitement, imagination, and pure joy.
Designed to entertain as much as it educates, ‘Your Brain Is Magic!’ encourages young audiences to explore how the brain works — from memory and perception to creativity and emotions — using humor, storytelling, and hands-on participation.
Watch a sample of ‘Brains On! Universe’ – youtube.com/BrainsOnShow
TICKETS
Tickets to see Brains ON are available at NJPAC.org or by visiting the NJPAC Box Office at 1 Center Street, Newark, New Jersey or calling 888. GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).
Brains ON!
Learn more at
brainson.org; facebook.com/BrainsOnShow; instagram.com/brains_on
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
Learn more at NJPAC.org.
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CELEBRATE LADINO DAY WITH THE NEW YORK AMERICAN SEPHARDIC COMMUNITY
- By Mabel Pais
LADINO DAY, around the world since 2013, has been celebrated to honor the Ladino, the Judeo-Spanish, community. January 11th marks New York’s 9th Annual Ladino Day hosted by the American Sephardi Federation (americansephardi.org). This will take place at the American Sephardi Federation – Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011.
Ladino is a bridge to many cultures. A variety of Spanish, it has absorbed words from Hebrew, Turkish, Arabic, French, Greek, and Portuguese. The mother tongue of Jews in the Ottoman Empire for 500 years, Ladino became the home language of Sephardim worldwide. While the number of Ladino speakers has sharply declined, distinguished Ladino Day programs like that of the American Sephardic Federation celebrate and preserve a vibrant language and heritage. These programs are, as Aviya Kushner has written in the Forward, “Why Ladino Will Rise Again.”
Message of Greetings from Fortuna….
youtube.com/shorts/8gH_2IXg7EY?feature=share
Postcard: Frederic Leighton’s “Old Damascus: Jew’s Quarter or Gathering Lemons,” c.1873-1874
PROGRAM
The American Sephardi Federation with the Sephardic Foundation on Aging proudly presents:
WHAT: Salud i beraha: The 9th Annual NY Ladino Day!
Curated by Jane Mushabac and Bryan Kirschen
Tales and Variations in Ladino with Joe Halio
Tu Ke Bivas: An Illustrated Talk by artist Becky Behar
A Panel of Movers and Shakers of Ladino, with Lily Henley, Yinnon Sanders, and Aaron Shapiro
Fortuna, Brazilian Star of Ladino Song
with Guest Artist Frank London on Trumpet, and Alex Parke on Clarinet, Shoko Nagai on Piano, Satoshi Takeishi on Percussion, and Brian Glassman on Bass
WHEN: Sunday, 11 January 2:00-5:00PM EST
WHERE: In-Person @ the Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th Street, New York City
TICKETS
Tickets, on a 3-tiered basis, are available:
- $26 General Admission
(Admission to Ladino Day)
- $36 Friend of NY Ladino Day
(Includes a copy of the book: The Historic Synagogues of Turkey, and admission to Ladino Day)
- $56 VIP Friend of NY Ladino Day
(Includes VIP reception prior to the program, a copy of the book: The
Historic Synagogues of Turkey, and VIP seating at Ladino Day)
American Sephardi Federation
The American Sephardi Federation preserves and promotes the history, traditions, and rich mosaic culture of Greater Sephardic communities as an integral part of the Jewish experience.
Connect with the Federation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Email: info@americansephardi.org
Phone: 1 212.294.8350
Mail: American Sephardi Federation – Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011
Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, Social Issues, Education, Business, Health and Wellness, and Cuisine.
