Priscilla Ahn

What better way to end the semester than with a relaxing concert set to the sweet and gentle musical stylings of Priscilla Ahn?

With an angelic voice and a softly spoken acoustic guitar to match, this California native singer-songwriter is sure to create a melodic and peaceful ambiance. Stressed out students anticipating their slew of finals to come can take a breather and calm down with this low-key, indie girl on the rise.

Ahn is touring to promote her latest album, When You Grow Up, and her earlier release, A Good Day, both of which are beautifully simplistic yet entirely honest musical testaments subtle in their delivery but that speak to deeper emotional themes.

This indie “it” girl will perform at the El Rey Theatre on Friday, Dec. 2, with tickets starting at $17, available on Ticketmaster.

Be sure to check out this singer-songwriter up-and-comer before she makes it big.

Hammer Conversations: Angela Davis & Robin Levi

Though the Hammer Museum is best known for its varied, acclaimed art exhibitions, its public programs are also noteworthy.

The Hammer Conversation series aims to bring prolific, influential figures into intimate discussions with the public, and the museum will host two activists whose bodies of work are impressive and significant: Angela Davis and Robin Levi.

Davis is best known for her efforts in the ’60s and ’70s, when she gained massive respect for her fight for social justice and activism in the Civil Rights movement, as well as notoriety for her involvement with the Communist Party and the Black Panthers.

Levi is the human rights director at Justice Now and has recently garnered acclaim for her book of essays by female prisoners, Inside This Place, Not of It: Narratives from Women’s Prisons.

The discussion is set for 7 p.m. today, and will be followed by a book signing for Levi’s new work. Even better, the discussion is free for visitors and parking is only $3.

Jingle Ball

If you’re looking for an unconventional start to the holidays, KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball will be a surefire way to celebrate the beginning of winter break.

Surely the biggest concert of the Christmas season, Jingle Ball will feature goodies in the form of mainstream superstars, such as Lady Gaga, David Guetta, Flo Rida, Sean Paul, Gym Class Heroes and Taio Cruz. The festivities will be held at L.A. Live’s illustrious Nokia Theatre on Saturday.

But that’s not all. Jingle Ball will also introduce two lesser-known artists to the big stage: the quirky duo Karmin and pop band Big Time Rush from the Nickelodeon TV series of the same name, both promising groups sure to have even brighter futures.

Tickets are selling fast, so be sure to check out KIIS FM’s website for ticket options. KIIS is also holding a slew of contests to give away tickets. Find a way to get your hands on some tickets.

The Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker

Christmas is nearing, bringing with it a few timeless traditions: stringing up technicolor lights, re-watching 1964’s claymation treasure, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and, of course, watching performances of the Tchaikovsky-scored classic The Nutcracker.

Though you might be tired of seeing small, ho-hum versions of this show, it’s an entirely different animal in the hands of a talented cast.

And talk about a talented cast: The famed Chicago company of the Joffrey Ballet will be making a visit to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles to perform its critically acclaimed version of the seminal holiday ballet. It’s part of the 2011-2012 season of “Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center,” which has garnered plenty of praise.

Tickets are going quickly, and this promises to be one of the most impressive versions of The Nutcracker. The show is only running six performances starting today through Saturday, and tickets can be found on the Music Center’s website with prices ranging from $34 to $125.