Paul Whiteman News

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts (PTPA) is proud to present your favorite holiday classics, big band style, with 'The Glenn Miller Orchestra: In the Holiday Mood' on Friday, Dec. 11 at 8 p.m.

In a one-of-a-kind concert created especially for Valley Performing Arts Center (VPAC), the world's most seasoned Gershwin interpreter, Peter Nero, will perform Gershwin's timeless works from Broadway and film on Saturday, November 14 at 8pm. This two-part program will be a special evening dedicated to the work Gershwin composed in Los Angeles after relocating from New York. 

One of America's most versatile and prolific living composers, Andre Previn, joins Pacific Symphony as the honored guest and focus of the 15th American Composers Festival (ACF). Previn, who has been called one of America's least easily categorized musicians, began his remarkable career as a Hollywood "wunderkind" and a best-selling jazz pianist. Now 86, Previn has received four Academy Awards for his work in film, 10 Grammy Awards for his recordings (plus one more for his Lifetime Achievement), and he is also an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He's held a series of major conducting posts, including the L.A. Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra, but now exclusively composes. The concert is led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, whose great admiration for the legend shaped this year's ACF to reveal the scope of Previn's prowess as a composer. 

Orange County, Calif.-May 11, 2015-One of America's most versatile and prolific living composers, Andre Previn, joins Pacific Symphony as the honored guest and focus of the 15th American Composers Festival (ACF). Previn, who has been called one of America's least easily categorized musicians, began his remarkable career as a Hollywood "wunderkind" and a best-selling jazz pianist. Now 86, Previn has received four Academy Awards for his work in film, 10 Grammy Awards for his recordings (plus one more for his Lifetime Achievement), and he is also an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He's held a series of major conducting posts, including the L.A. Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra, but now exclusively composes. The concert is led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, whose great admiration for the legend shaped this year's ACF to reveal the scope of Previn's prowess as a composer. 

Just in time for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Billie Holiday on April 7, 2015, Universal Music Enterprises honors the iconic artist with the simultaneous digital release of 17 classic Holiday albums.

Led by guest conductor Donato Cabrera and featuring guest pianist Thomas Lauderdale of Pink Martini, this concert offers not only Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, the all-time classic synthesis of Carnegie Hall and Tin Pan Alley, but two more pieces with similar flavors from Gershwin's fellow American, George Antheil.

Led by guest conductor Donato Cabrera and featuring guest pianist Thomas Lauderdale of Pink Martini, this concert offers not only Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, the all-time classic synthesis of Carnegie Hall and Tin Pan Alley, but two more pieces with similar flavors from Gershwin's fellow American, George Antheil.

Celebrate the holiday season with a new play co-written by Elizabeth Synnott and Ken Melamed, and weaved together with familiar holiday songs. Finding Christmas, stars Ms. Synnott with a special appearance by Teddy Coluca, and will be directed by Ken Melamed, with music direction by Barbara Ciannella, lights and sound design by Phil Sosinsky and set design by Kristin Kruger.

Signaling the start of the social season, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) will hold its annual Gala Celebration on Saturday, September 20 at 8:30 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. This year's Gala concert will be led by BSO Music Director Marin Alsop. On the heels of the 200th birthday of the National Anthem, the evening will showcase American music and artists, beginning with a revival of Ferde Grofe's Ode to the Star-Spangled Banner, brought back to the stage for its first public performance in 80 years. The program also features celebrated blind American jazz pianist Marcus Roberts with the Marcus Roberts Trio performing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue; Center Stage's visionary Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah narrating Copland's Lincoln Portrait; and the Morgan State University Choir lending their voices to selections from the composer's Old American Songs. Please see below for complete program details.

London-based choreographer and dancer Ryan Francois will appear at two New York City events celebrating the history of swing music and dancing -- and will inspire young people in Harlem to reclaim their swing dance heritage.

Pacific Symphony's critically-acclaimed American Composers Festival (ACF) continues for the 14th year with "From Screen to Score: New Concert Music by Famous Film Composers"-who happen to be four of today's biggest Hollywood heavy-hitters: John Williams ("Star Wars," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "E.T., the Extra Terrestrial"), Howard Shore ("Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit," "Hugo"), James Horner ("Titanic," "Star Trek," "Apollo 13") and Elliot Goldenthal ("Alien 3," "Batman Forever" and "Batman and Robin"). Together, these iconic composers boast 11 Oscars and countless billions of box office dollars. They also hold the ironic position of simultaneously being the most-heard orchestral composers ever (the soundtrack for "Titanic" sold 30 million copies), yet their music is the least performed.

Following his acclaimed New York Philharmonic debut on the ASIA / WINTER 2014 tour, jazz pianist Makoto Ozone will join Music Director Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic in a newly added concert Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. The all-American program will include Bernstein's Candide Overture; Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, featuring Mr. Ozone as soloist; Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; and Gershwin's An American in Paris. The concert will mark Mr. Ozone's U.S. orchestral debut; his appearances with the Philharmonic on the ASIA / WINTER 2014 tour marked his first performances with an American orchestra.

Playing to a sold-out Aeolian Hall on February 12, 1924, violinist-conductor Paul Whiteman led his dance band in a program of popular and jazz repertoire. His 'Experiment in Modern Music' culminated in the premiere of a piece commissioned for the occasion: Rhapsody in Blue, featuring its composer, George Gershwin, at the piano.

Playing to a sold-out Aeolian Hall on February 12, 1924, violinist-conductor Paul Whiteman led his dance band in a program of popular and jazz repertoire. His “Experiment in Modern Music” culminated in the premiere of a piece commissioned for the occasion: Rhapsody in Blue, featuring its composer, George Gershwin, at the piano.

Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks with Conductor Maurice Peress present the 90th Anniversary Celebration of Rhapsody in Blue on February 12 at The Town Hall in NYC.

It may be one of the greatest combinations of classical music with jazz and pop ever created by an American-born composer, and this February 12 it will be 90 years since the immortal George Gershwin first played his 'Rhapsody in Blue' for an audience. Bandleader Vince Giordano and Conductor Maurice Peress, who share a love for American music, have joined forces to honor Paul Whiteman's historic Aeolian Hall concert on the same day and the same block where Gershwin's amazing piece was introduced nine decades ago. This concert will be on Wednesday, February 12th, at The Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street, NYC, at 8:00pm for a one-time-only performance. Tickets are modestly priced ranging from $25 to $40 and will be available at www.ticketmaster.com or at The Town Hall box office.

The Columbus Symphony presents Peter Nero: The Gershwin Project at the Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.) on Saturday, February 8, at 8pm. Tickets are $25-$68 and can be purchased at the CAPA Ticket Center (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (614) 228-8600 or (800) 745-3000.

The Library of Congress has today announced its annual list of 25 films that will be included in the National Film Registry.

"If he weren't such a superb musician, Peter Nero might be easy to dismiss as a mere great entertainer" (Philadelphia Inquirer). Harris Center at Folsom Lake College welcomes the legendary Peter Nero to Stage One for two separate programs over two nights with bassist Michael Barnett. Hailed as one of the premier interpreters of Gershwin, will perform The Gershwin Project, and Classic Connections, an evening dedicated to showing how jazz and classical standards are more closely related than people might think.