NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
|
|
THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
ITALIAN LAKE CONCERT SERIES TO FEATURE FREE LIVE PERFORMANCES EACH SUNDAY AFTERNOONMayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that the city is again presenting the 2005 Italian Lake Concert Series, which kicks off this coming Sunday, July 24, at 6:30 p.m. at Italian Lake Park at N. 3rd and Division Streets in uptown Harrisburg. The free concert series features live musical offerings each Sunday afternoon through August 24, and is bigger and better this year thanks to a supporting grant from the Pennsylvania Council On The Arts. Reed said the 2005 Italian Lake Concert Series is highlighted by diversity this year, with martial band melodies, smooth jazz, unique classical and ethnic music offerings. The city this year installed a cover over the Italian Lake bandstand to protect performers and enable concerts to withstand minor inclement weather. The Mayor said a new feature at this year’s five-concert series is the availability of coffee and sweets from the Broad Street Market’s Mary’s Kitchen, and Coca Cola soft and specialty drinks. Reed said the popular concert series usually draws between 500 and 1000 attendees each Sunday evening, with guests encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. The Mayor said an impressive and diverse line-up of artists has been established, including: July 24 – The Greater Harrisburg Concert Band will play popular selections from their extensive repertoire of martial and classical music scored for band instruments and including several popular selections by “march king” John Philip Souza. The Greater Harrisburg Concert Band is comprised of 40 professional musicians, many of whom are music teachers and band directors from the greater Harrisburg region. The artists’ roster is augmented by many young but accomplished high school and college musicians. July 31 – Ilona Knopfler and the Steve Rudolph Trio will perform smooth jazz classics. With a style that evokes Bonnie Raitt, Diane Shuur or Diana Krall, Parisian chanteuse Ilona Knopfler takes on some of the most popular tunes of the 60’s and 70’s on “Some Kind of Wonderful”, her debut album on Mack Avenue Records. Though Knopfler was barely in diapers when many her songs hit the airwaves, she manages to capture their timeless essence in versions that are distinctively her own. The debut album will be released nationally on July 19, and has already been critically acclaimed. August 7 – The Chopped Liver River Band will bring quality entertainment with Klezmer favorites including Yiddish songs, Jewish show tunes, big band hits, light jazz and comedy. The 14-member band spans several generations and is affiliated with Congregation Shaarai Shomayim in Lancaster, the fourth oldest Jewish community in North America. August 14 – The Carpentier Quartet from New York City will bring Latin American chamber music to Harrisburg for an evening of exotic melodies and haunting rhythms. The Carpentier Quartet specializes in South American Classical Music and is comprised of four Julliard graduates plus a Latin percussionist. Their performance techniques are as unique and diverse as the rich heritage of the music they present. They have performed in venues throughout the Mid-Atlantic U.S., including individual appearances with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. August 21 – The series closes with a reprise performance by the Greater Harrisburg Concert Band, with a totally new program that includes a premier performance by their newly-formed Youth Brass Ensemble. Reed said additional information on the Italian Lake Concert Series, and all of Harrisburg’s many special events, are available at the city’s website www.harrisburgpa.gov, or www.harrisburgevents.com., or by calling the Harrisburg Department of Parks and Recreation at (717) 255.3020.
|
|