Local Stars and Nationally Renowned Artists Take the Stage in Scranton Community Concerts’ 79th Season

Scranton Community Concerts embarks on its 79th continuous year of presenting musical entertainment to Northeastern Pennsylvanian audiences with the 2006-2007 Concert Series. This season’s featured artists and concert dates are: a Mozart 250th Celebration featuring local artists - September 16, 2006; The Preservation Hall Jazz Band - November 3, 2006; The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia with Conductor Ignat Solzhenitsyn - March 3, 2007; The Dallas Brass - March 31, 2007, and Rockapella - May 12, 2007. All performances will be held at the Mellow Theater at Lackawanna College and will begin at 8:00pm unless otherwise specified. Season subscriptions vary in price from $55 to $155 and are on sale now. Subscribers have the option this season to pick a package that contains 3, 4 or 5 concerts of their choice and receive substantial savings over single ticket prices. Single tickets for each event will be available beginning on August 1, 2006 at 10AM. Subscriptions and single tickets can be obtained by calling (570)342-4137, or in person at Scranton Community Concerts’ offices in Lackawanna College’s main building located at 501 Vine Street in Downtown Scranton.

The 2006-2007 Season kicks off with a tribute to the Music of Mozart, hosted by WVIA and performed by local musicians, on Saturday, September 16, 2006 at 7:30 pm. Scheduled to perform in the Mozart 250th Celebration concert are: the Robert Dale Chorale, Mostly Opera, the Williamsport Symphony Chamber Players, Sophie Till & Ron Stabinsky (Violin and Piano), soprano soloist Heather Petruzelli, and the Lyric Consort. WVIA’s Larry Vojtko will serve as the Musical Director for the performance. This evening of music will take the audience on a journey through some of Mozart’s most memorable compositions, and will be narrated by the talented personalities of WVIA-FM.

On Friday, November 3, 2006, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs as the second concert in the 2006-2007 line up. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band derives its name from Preservation Hall, the venerable music venue located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, founded in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe. The band has traveled worldwide spreading their mission to nurture and perpetuate the art form of New Orleans Jazz. Whether performing at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center, for British Royalty or the King of Thailand, this music embodies a joyful, timeless spirit. The Hall was damaged in Hurricane Katrina, but through great effort and perseverance, the Hall recently reopened. This concert is sponsored in part by the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel.

The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia joins us on Saturday, March 3, 2007 in a special performance featuring Mozart’s Overture to Le Nozze di Figaro, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, and Haydn’s Symphony No. 99 in E-Flat Major. The 33 piece ensemble boasts the leadership of the incomparable Ignat Solzhenitsyn, who performed for Scranton Community Concerts in 1999 with the Concerto Soloists.

Scranton Community Concerts commitment to education continues with an extensive workshop and public performance featuring the Dallas Brass on Saturday, March 31, 2007. In conjunction with the concert, the members of the Dallas Brass will conduct a day-long workshop with up to 150 local music students and members of local high school marching bands. This workshop will provide specialized attention and instruction to the students by professional experts in their field, and will culminate in the students performing a finale piece live on stage with the Dallas Brass at the Mellow Theater at Lackawanna College. Since its founding in 1983 by Michael Levine, the Dallas Brass has become one of America’s foremost musical ensembles. The Dallas Brass repertoire includes classical masterpieces, Dixieland, swing, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic music. This concert is sponsored in part by the Ramada Plaza, Clarks Summit.

The final performance in the 2006-2007 season features the a cappella vocal sensation Rockapella on Saturday May 12, 2007. Finding them on television over the years has become a frequent and pleasant surprise for millions, whether it be on numerous national commercials and talk shows, or as regulars for five seasons on the award-winning PBS program Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? The original quartet, a group of young Brown University alumni, was formed for the sheer love of performing, and this certifiably unique pop musical group has taken the previously stodgy music genre of a cappella and brought it full-force into the 21st century. This concert is sponsored in part by the Ramada Plaza, Clarks Summit.

Substantial group discounts and student rate tickets are also available. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call (570) 342-4137 or email info@scrantonconcerts.org.