The Original Paul and George

Feb 19

NEWS CONTACT:

Jennifer Brink, Executive Director

Phone: (518) 793-1348

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 9, 2024

Glens Falls Symphony Presents Ballroom Dancers from Dance Fire Studios and Music of George Gershwin with Tony Bennett pianist/music director Tim Ray

Begun as a community orchestra in 1977 at the then-named Adirondack Community College, the Glens Falls Symphony (GFS) returns to its roots on Sunday March 10 with a concert of George Gershwin and Paul Whiteman at SUNY Adirondack’s Theatre. The jazzy afternoon includes Charleston-inspired dancing in a program called, “The Original Paul and George”. GFS Music Director Charles Peltz shares his own welcome to this toe-tapping event, “We are delighted to bring this unique music to a special place unique in our history."

Following a youthful career as a classical violist in the Denver and San Francisco Symphonies, bandleader Paul Whiteman eventually titled himself “The King of Jazz,” and performed with his incredibly popular dance band throughout the 1920s. He commissioned many pieces and songs from emerging composers, including a young George Gershwin. The best-known of these today is the beloved “Rhapsody in Blue”, which will be performed in a unique performance with Tim Ray only a few weeks following the Rhapsody’s 100th anniversary.

Featured artist Tim Ray, who served as music director and pianist for the legendary Tony Bennett for a number of years, has also performed with an extensive list of musical icons, notably Aretha Franklin, Lyle Lovett, Jane Siberry, and Soul Asylum, just to name a few. Mr. Ray has also performed repeatedly on “The Tonight Show”, “Late Night”, and “The Conan O’Brien Show”, among others. He is a grant recipient from the National Endowment for the Arts, and is a professor on the faculty of the Berklee College of Music. Tim was previously on the faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music, has lectured and taught improvisation at Harvard University and MIT, and also conducts workshops and clinics at colleges and high schools throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Also joining the symphony on stage will be Florin Vlad and Natalia O'Connor from Dance Fire Studios of Saratoga Springs, NY. Together, this competition-winning pair have represented the US at multiple World Championships and have trained under World Champion Eduard Simon. Their combined accolades include placements in the Top 7 at the World's most famous ballroom event- Blackpool Dance Festival and reaching the World Cup Finals.

“This special concert represents so much about what we do here at the Glens Falls Symphony-we bring together classical, jazz, and other genres of music with dance, art, film, and other inspirations. Our goal is to create inspiring, meaningful experiences for audiences of all ages. The SUNY Theatre will be pulsing with rhythm on March 10”, shares the Symphony’s Executive Director Jennifer Brink. “

Program:

Music by George Gershwin

Lullaby for Strings

Three Preludes

Rhapsody in Blue

Tim Ray, piano

-Intermission-

Dance Favorites from the Paul Whiteman Orchestra

to be selected from:"Charleston", Happy Feet", "Wonderful One", "After You've Gone", “Coquette”, "Lonely Melody", "Nobody's Sweetheart", "Sugar", "Sweet Sue", and "That's Why"

Concert Sponsors:

The Post-Star/Amplified

The Queensbury Hotel

Finch Paper

New York State Council on the Arts

Jennifer Brink