- [Announcer] Bank of America.

Bank of America is proud to support local cultural programming.

Welcome to the 2023 Bryant Park Tree Lighting, hosted by Broadway performer, Mauricio Martinez and Grammy Award winner, Jenn Colella, featuring performances by Olympic skaters, Mariah Bell, Karen Chen, Ryan Bradley, world Champion skating pair, Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier.

Figure skating in Harlem, the Skyliners, and an exclusive world premier performance from Ice Theater of New York.

And now, please welcome your hosts for the evening, Mauricio Martinez and Jenn Colella.

- It's such a thrill to be back here at Bryant Park, isn't it Jenn?

- I love Bryant Park.

Bryant Park, to me, feels like the heart of New York City.

- The public library is right there.

Times Square is right there.

All these buildings.

And seeing all of you here for the tree lighting.

[audience applauding] - Now let's kick off the skating.

Please welcome Ice Theater of New York.

[audience applauding] ["Jazz Nutcracker" music] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [jazz music continues] [audience applauding] - Let's hear it one more time.

Let's hear it one more time.

Beautiful, that was incredible.

Thank you so much, Ice Theater of New York.

If y'all don't mind indulging me for just a few moments, I would like to sing my version of a holiday classic.

If you know it, I'd love for you to join me.

This is called "Winter Wonderland".

♪ Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?

♪ ♪ In the lane, snow is glistening ♪ ♪ A beautiful sight ♪ ♪ We're happy tonight ♪ ♪ Walking in a winter wonderland ♪ ♪ Gone away is the bluebird ♪ ♪ Here to stay is a new bird ♪ ♪ Who sings a love song ♪ ♪ As we stroll along ♪ ♪ Walking in a winter wonderland ♪ ♪ In the meadow, we can build a snowman ♪ ♪ And pretend that he is Parson Brown ♪ ♪ He'll say, are you married?

♪ ♪ We'll say, no man ♪ ♪ But you can do the job when you're in town ♪ ♪ Later on, we'll conspire ♪ ♪ As we dream by the fire ♪ ♪ To face unafraid ♪ ♪ The plans that we've made ♪ ♪ Walking in a winter wonderland ♪ ♪ Walking in a winter ♪ ♪ Walking in a winter ♪ ♪ Walking in a winter wonderland ♪ [audience applauding] Thank you my friends.

- Let's hear it for Jen one more time.

[audience applauding] Isn't that amazing?

And from world-class pipes to World-class skating.

- I see what you did there.

- Yes.

Now please welcome two-time Olympian Olympic silver medalist and 2017 national champion, Karen Chen.

[audience applauding] ["Believe" by Josh Groban] ♪ Children sleeping ♪ ♪ Snow is softly falling ♪ ♪ Dreams are calling ♪ ♪ Like bells in the distance ♪ [audience applauding] ♪ We were dreamers ♪ ♪ Not so long ago ♪ ♪ But one by one, we ♪ ♪ All had to grow up ♪ ♪ When it seems that we have lost our way ♪ ♪ We find ourselves again on Christmas Day ♪ ♪ Believe in what your heart is saying ♪ ♪ Hear the melody that's playing ♪ ♪ There's no time to waste ♪ ♪ There's so much to celebrate ♪ ♪ Believe in what you feel inside ♪ ♪ And give your dreams the wings to fly ♪ ♪ You have everything you need ♪ ♪ If you just believe ♪ ♪ If you just believe ♪ ♪ If you just believe ♪ ♪ If you just believe ♪ ♪ Just believe ♪ ♪ Just believe ♪ [audience applauding] [audience cheering] - That was amazing.

- Amazing.

- Karen Chen, beautiful.

We have another-- - I can't skate to save my life.

- I can't skate.

- Can you?

- I'm not good at it.

I wanna try, but I'm not great at it.

I know my strengths.

We have another fan favorite and a very familiar face to the Bryant Park Tree Lighting.

- Yes, we do.

Please welcome Skate Canada International silver medalist, Ryan Bradley.

[audience applauding] ["Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Frank Sinatra] ♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪ ♪ Let your heart be light ♪ ♪ Next year all our troubles will be out of sight ♪ ♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪ ♪ Make the Yuletide gay ♪ [audience applauding] ♪ Next year all our troubles will be miles away ♪ ♪ Once again, as in olden days ♪ ♪ Happy golden days of yore ♪ ♪ Faithful friends who are dear to us ♪ ♪ Will be near to us once more ♪ [audience cheering] ♪ Someday soon we all will be together ♪ ♪ If the fates allow ♪ ♪ Until then, ♪ [audience cheering] ♪ we'll have to ♪ ♪ muddle through somehow ♪ ♪ So have yourself a merry little Christmas now ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas ♪ [audience applauding] - That was amazing.

Now we now have a very special performance combining extraordinary talents from Harlem.

- Please welcome six young skaters from Figure Skating in Harlem, the only organization in the world for girls of color that combines the power of education with the artistic discipline of figure skating.

Joining them on the ice, singing "Let it Snow", please also welcome award-winning vocalist, Alicia Hall Moran.

[audience applauding] ♪ Oh, the weather outside is frightful, ♪ ♪ but the fire is so delightful ♪ ♪ and since we've no place to go.

♪ ♪ Let it snow.

Let it snow.

Let it snow.

♪ ♪ Oh, it doesn't show signs of stopping.

♪ ♪ And I brought some corn for popping.

♪ ♪ The lights are turned way down low.

♪ ♪ Let it snow.

Let it snow.

Let it snow.

♪ ♪ When we finally kiss good night, ♪ ♪ how we'll hate going out in the storm, ♪ ♪ but if you really hold me tight ♪ ♪ all the way home, I'll be warm ♪ ♪ Oh, the fire is slowly dying ♪ ♪ And my dear, we're still goodbyeing ♪ ♪ And as long as you love me so ♪ ♪ Let it snow ♪ ♪ Let it snow New York ♪ ♪ Let it snow ♪ [audience applauding] - I love that ending too, right?

- That was beautiful.

From aspiring Olympians to an Olympic pair.

- Yes, please welcome Olympic medalists, world champions, and two time US champions, Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier.

[audience applauding] ["Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" by Tran-Siberian Orchestra] [orchestral music] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [orchestral music continues] [audience cheering] - Beautiful, beautiful, just outstanding.

Now you got to hear my wonderful co-host Jenn Colella sing earlier tonight beautifully.

Now it's my turn to spread some holiday cheer.

I'll be singing my own version of "Silent Night" for you all.

[audience applauding] ♪ Silent night, Holy night ♪ ♪ All is calm, all is bright ♪ ♪ 'round yon virgin mother and child ♪ ♪ Holy infant, so tender and mild, ♪ ♪ sleep in heavenly peace, ♪ ♪ sleep in heavenly peace.

♪ [singing in a foreign language] [singing in a foreign language continues] [singing in a foreign language continues] [singing in a foreign language continues] [singing in a foreign language continues] [singing in a foreign language continues] [singing in a foreign language continues] [audience cheering] - Mauricio, Mauricio Martinez, that was beautiful, my friend.

- Oh, thank you my dear Jenn, thank you.

- I'll never get over that version.

That was beautiful.

- Thank you.

- Oh my goodness.

Next up, please welcome six time national synchronized skating medalists and three time USA World team members representing the Skating Club of New York, the Skyliners.

["It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year" by Andy Williams] ♪ It's the most wonderful time of the year ♪ ♪ With the kids jingle belling ♪ ♪ And everyone telling you be of good cheer ♪ ♪ It's the most wonderful time of the year ♪ ♪ It's the hap-happiest season of all ♪ ♪ With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings ♪ ♪ When friends come to call ♪ ♪ It's the hap-happiest season of all ♪ ♪ There'll be parties for hosting ♪ ♪ Marshmallows for toasting ♪ ♪ And caroling out in the snow ♪ ♪ There'll be scary ghost stories ♪ ♪ And tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago ♪ ♪ It's the most wonderful time of the year ♪ ♪ There'll be much mistltoeing ♪ ♪ And hearts will be glowing ♪ ♪ When loved ones are near ♪ ♪ It's the most wonderful time ♪ ♪ Yes the most wonderful time ♪ ♪ Oh the most wonderful time ♪ ♪ Of the year ♪ [audience applauding and cheering] - That was a blast.

- So much fun, right?

- Incredible.

- Yeah.

Before we light the tree, we've got one more world class performance.

- Please welcome US ladies champion and Olympic team member, Mariah Bell.

["White Christmas" by Kelly Clarkson] ♪ I'm dreaming of a white Christmas ♪ ♪ Just like the ones I used to know ♪ ♪ May your days be merry and bright ♪ ♪ And may all your Christmases be white ♪ ["White Christmas" instrumental music] [instrumental music continues] [instrumental music continues] ♪ Oh, I'm dreaming of a white Christmas ♪ ♪ With every Christmas card I write ♪ ♪ May your days be merry and bright ♪ [audience applauding] ♪ And may all your Christmases be white ♪ [audience cheering] - Hi friends, there's only one thing left to do and that is to light up this tree.

- Yes.

- But before we do, let's bring back all of our talent who made tonight so extra special.

Come on out here.

- Yes, please.

Come outta here, woo.

- Yes, come on, come on.

- Let's gear it for our wonderful skaters.

- Yay.

Yay.

[audience cheering] - Hey, everyone out there, are you ready?

[audience cheering] Now let's all count down together, shall we?

All right, here we go.

- 10, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.

[audience cheering] [upbeat holiday music] [fireworks booming] - Wow.

[audience applauding] - The Christmas season has officially begun.

Happy holidays.

Let's all join together for one final song.

♪ Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock ♪ ♪ Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring ♪ ♪ Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun ♪ ♪ Now the jingle hop has begun ♪ ♪ Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock ♪ ♪ Jingle bells chime and jingle bells time ♪ ♪ Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square ♪ ♪ in the frosty air ♪ ♪ What a bright time, ♪ ♪ It's the right time to rock the night away.

♪ ♪ Jingle bell time ♪ ♪ It's a swell time to go riding in on one horse sleigh ♪ ♪ Giddy up, jingle horse pick up your feet ♪ ♪ Jingle around the clock ♪ ♪ Mix and mingle and a jingling beat ♪ ♪ That's the jingle bell rock ♪ [audience cheering]