First Congregational Church
108 Sound Beach Avenue
Old Greenwich

The First Music and Arts Series of the First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich presents the final program of its “Sunday Afternoons Live” concert series on Sunday, February 26 at 2:00 p.m. The Bryant Park Quartet will present a program of works by Mozart, Beethoven, and Ligeti.

Formed in 2006, the Bryant Park Quartet has performed recitals at Lincoln Center, Staller Center for the Arts, the Austrian Cultural Forum, Des Moines Art Center, as well as soloists with the Cornell Chamber Orchestra, and in collaboration with the Mark Morris Dance Group at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Based in New York City, the quartet’s members are Anna Elashvili and Ben Russell, violins, Nathan Schram, viola, and Tomoko Fujita, cello.

A prizewinner in the 2010 Hugo Kauder International Music Competition, the quartet has established itself as an accomplished string quartet through imaginative and spirited concerts. With its series, “The rEvolving Ear,” the Bryant Park Quartet strives to create programs that highlight connections between established works and composers, and explore contemporary works that inspire new paths of listening and appreciation for historical works.

First Music and Arts endeavors to present quality programming for the entire family. Every program is free, with a suggested donation of $20 per person to ensure continued support for future seasons in the series.

For further information, 203-637-1791 extension 22, or craigs@fccog.org.

at The Performing Arts Center
Purchase College

You know it’s the holidays when Rob Mathes takes the stage and performs his annual Rob Mathes Christmas Concert!  Rob and his beloved brand of holiday musical magic is back for an 18^th year with three shows presented at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, at 8:00 p.m., on Friday, December 16, and Saturday, December 17, and at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, December 18.  Tickets are available at The Performing Arts Center Box Office, www.artscenter.org or 914-251-6200, or through The Music Source in Greenwich, Conn., at www.themusicsource.org or 203-698-0444.

Rob brings an extraordinary mix of world-class musicians, holiday originals and remarkably reworked classics to the magical season. Rob’s band includes some of the best in the business, including Will Lee on bass, Billy Masters on guitar, Joe Bonadio on drums, Rick Knutsen on keyboards, vocalists James “D-Train” Williams, Ian Cron and Tabitha Fair, a full horn section, and a 30+ member choir.

“I love doing three concerts as opposed to one,” noted Mathes, who was limited to just one concert last year due to his hectic schedule.  “I love it so much more. For me it is the music making, and to get that superstar band up there, it is a feast, and we rip the roof off the joint. This year will be no different. I come home from a year of madness to what is home for me, and those three concerts are the focal point of my year in many ways. Without them I wouldn’t want to do anything else. Please join us. There will be some surprises for sure.”

Rob Mathes is a Grammy and Emmy-nominated arranger/composer, nationally renowned music producer/director, and a performer. In the past year he has been working a great deal with Sting, recently directing Sting’s 60^th Birthday Concert with artists Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Herbie Hancock, Vince Gill, Will.i.am, Rufus Wainwright, Branford Marsalis, Billy Joel and Chris Botti.  In addition to musically directing the live concerts, Rob produced three records for Sting in 2011: Symphonicities, Live In Berlin, and the deluxe box set, Sting: The Best of 25 Years, and arranged much of the music for Sting’s Symphonicity tour with the Royal Philharmonic, serving as that tour’s Music Producer/Director. He is currently working on a new project with Sting for release in 2012.  He also produced the debut Matthew Morrison CD, the star of the TV show Glee, including duets with Sir Elton John, Sting and Gwyneth Paltrow; and produced a new version of Walk on the Wild Side with Lou Reed.  In addition, he produced a new CD with Butch Walker for Panic! At The Disco, and was a judge of Abbey Road’s 80^th Anniversary Anthem Competition.  In April, he created and directed a special evening of songs for Maya Angelou.  Rob has also been the long-time music director for the Kennedy Center Honors (2011 will mark his 9th year), and musically directed the televised Dedication to Service honoring George Bush Sr., hosted by Bill Clinton, featuring Mavis Staples, Cee Lo Green, Sam Moore, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Kid Rock and others.

The Rob Mathes Christmas Concert is the one time of year that Rob takes center stage and performs to the delight of his fans.  The concert is a benefit for World Vision and supports causes close to Rob’s heart.  Come join the fun and get in the holiday spirit with the Rob Mathes Christmas Concert!  For more information, visit http://www.robmathes.com or http://www.facebook.com/robmathesmusic.

Second Congregational Church
139 East Putnam Avenue
Greenwich, Connecticut
Sunday, December 11, 2011
4:00 pm

Westfair Singers “Music for a Winter’s Eve”

The Westfair Singers, a women’s chamber choral ensemble under the direction of Mary Jane Newman, celebrates their 25th anniversary with “Music for a Winter’s Eve” on Sunday, December 11, at 4:00 pm.  The program will include music by Handel, Praetorius, Gevaert, Casals, and Anthony Newman.  Mr. Newman will also be featured as guest organist.  Also appearing will be flutist Zara Lawler, trumpeter David Glukh, and pianist Andrew Gordon.

The concert will be held at the Second Congregational Church, 139 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich. Tickets $20.00.  Info: 203-629-9814.

St Catherine of Siena Church
4 Riverside Ave
Riverside, CT
Friday, December 2, 2011
at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $20 general admission and $10 students
To charge tickets by phone call 203-637-3661

As St. Catherine of Siena Church in Riverside nears the end of a nine month, three million dollar renovation/restoration, the church is celebrating with a performance of Handel’s Messiah, featuring its Festival choir, members of the Greenwich Symphony, soloists soprano Elisabeth Franklin, Tracey Martineau, Connie Bowman, mezzo soprano Abby Powell, tenor Michael Imbimbo, and Baritone David Bennett. The performance will be conducted by Music Director Mark Kaczmarczyk.

The capital campaign to perform extensive renovation of the physical plant began more than two years ago, when a group of parishioners approached Msgr. Alan F. Detscher, Pastor, with the proposal to repair and restore the complex in anticipation of the parish’s one hundredth anniversary in 2013. The complex includes a 500 seat church, parish hall, parish offices and priest’s residence, and school, which currently provides Religious Education classes to more than 800 children on a weekly basis.

“I was astonished and delighted when members of the parish donated more than three million dollars for the Capital Campaign, during the height of the financial crash in the fall of 2008,” said Monsignor Detscher. “The generosity and involvement of the parishioners during this project has been extraordinary.”

The renovations include replacement of the slate roofs on the church and rectory, repointing of the bricks, replacement of heating and air conditioning systems in the church, and interior painting. Most noticeable will be the extensive updates to the church hall, in the basement of the church. Previously neglected when the church was built due to lack of funds, the parish hall now boasts state of the art lighting, extensive wainscoting, and the installation of an elevator servicing the main church and hall. Like all renovations, accommodations were made during the updates. The parish spent a hot summer without air conditioning, and leaks in the roof were numerous leading up to the repairs.

As the parish approaches its one hundred year anniversary, the over 2,000 parishioners can now begin to enjoy a completely renovated complex, beginning with a performance of Handel’s oratorio Messiah, on Friday December 2nd at 7:30 pm, 4 Riverside Ave, Riverside. Tickets are $20 general admission and $10 students. To charge tickets by phone call 203-637-3661.

The Bearcats Jazz Band will be performing at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park on Wednesday, August 10th from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.  The rain date is on Thursday, August 11th.

Dick Van Gorder and Joe Hanlon for the purpose of preserving and promulgating one of America’s national treasures – traditional jazz, formed the Bearcats in 1977.  They perform for jazz societies and festivals in CT, DE, NY, NJ, PA, VA and Florida, and on the West Coast at Big Bear Lake in California.

The members of The Bearcats are devoted, and skilled musicians with a style firmly rooted in the New Orleans tradition, and a flair also for the variations known as Chicago and West Coast.  The band appeals to a wide variety of audiences by easily migrating from a strict 1920s Louis Armstrong style with clarinet, tuba and banjo to a driving Eddie Condonesque, four-beater rouser with guitar and string bass.  For dancing, the repertoire also reaches to Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Ellington and Basie.

Bring the family, a picnic dinner and come join the fun and some wonderful Jazz music under the stars.

Other upcoming Parks and Recreation Wednesday night concerts are: Disco Inferno playing the popular disco songs of the 70’s on August 17th, and In Harmony singing 50’s and 60’s Doo Wop Music on August 24.

For more information please call Parks and Recreation at 203-618-7649, or visit www.greenwichct.org.  For rain cancellation information please call 203-618-7650 after 4pm.

The Department of Parks and Recreation will be presenting the amazing 70’s dance band, Disco Inferno, at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park on Wednesday, August 17^th from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. The rain date is Thursday, August 18^th 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park.

Disco Inferno is the northeast’s hottest and most authentic flashback to the 70’s dance band. The nine-piece group combines great dance music from the disco/funk era with a fun interactive stage show that appeals to people of all ages. Disco Inferno will turn any event into an exciting and memorable experience, performing hits by Donna Summer, K.C & the Sunshine Band, The Pointer Sisters, The Village People, Earth Wind & Fire, Gloria Gaynor and many more. Not only is Disco Inferno a sensational listening and dancing experience, it is an awesome visual one as well.

Disco Inferno was founded in 2001 and is currently based in the northeast. Over the years the group has developed a very respectable performance resume as well as favorable attention from the press. Disco Inferno has been hired for a variety of private and public functions, including casino showrooms, theaters, private parties, fairs/festivals, town and municipal events and fundraisers, and includes among its clients: Saratoga Raceway, Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, NY State Fair, ESPN, Caesars, The Company Theatre, The Rainbow Room at NBC and many others.

The group has also shared the stage with the Temptations, The Four Tops, Gloria Gaynor, The Pointer Sisters, Sha Na Na,, Herman’s Hermit’s, and K.C and the Sunshine Band.

Bring the family, a picnic dinner, enjoy some wonderful music, and dance the night away.

For more information please visit  www.greenwichct.org.  You can also get up to date rain postponement information by calling 203-618-7650 after 4 pm the day of the concert.

The final Jazz on the Sound Concert series for this summer will be on Sunday, August 14, 2011.  The rain date will be on Sunday, August 21^st.  The concert will feature a Dixieland Jazz band which will play on the 4:00pm Island Beach ferry, continue on Island Beach and play again on the return trip on the 5:30pm ferry.

Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy some Dixieland Jazz at Island Beach.  This is your last chance of the summer to attend this wonderful event. For more information, call the Recreation Office at 203-618-7649, or visit www.greenwichct.org.

For rain postponement information call the Parks and Recreation weather line at 203-618-7650.

The Greenwich Department of Parks and Recreation announces that the Octopuses Garden a Beatles Tribute Band will be performing at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in the Wednesday Night Concert Series on August 3rd.  This concert is sponsored by Adopt A Dog.

The Octopuses Garden will bring the audience on a Beatles journey, bringing the beloved music of the Beatles to life.  With authentic vocal arrangements and vintage instruments, they deliver an honest, high-energy sound that you just haven’t heard in a long time!  Without the wigs, accents and costumes of the typical tribute band, this is a show that is all about the music.

An evening with this band will transport you through all the many musical styles of the Beatles.  They will run through all the eras from the early favorites like “All My Loving” to later epic songs like “A Day in the Life” and “Hey Jude”.

Now is your opportunity to see this great group up close in your own backyard in Greenwich.
Bring a blanket, picnic dinner and listen to some wonderful music under the stars.

If it rains the concert will be held the following day Thursday August 4th.  To get updated weather information please call the Parks and Recreation weather hotline after 4pm at 203-618-7650

Other upcoming concerts are: August 10 – The Bearcats Jazz Band, and August 17 – Disco Inferno playing the best of the 70’s era

For more information visit www.greenwichct.org.