‘Big Band Classics’ on tap for commencement eve

Pops cast-16: Vocal coach Shinobu Takagi, seated, leads Commencement Eve Pops cast members, from left, Richard Montgomery II, Amanda Chmela, Debbie Williams, Ben Pfeil, Victoria Vargas and Eric Rubenstein through one of the numbers from “Big Band Classics.” The concert is scheduled for 8 p.m. on May 16 in King Concert Hall on the SUNY Fredonia campus.

The sound of classic big band music will fill King Concert Hall on campus Friday, May 16 at 8 p.m. That’s when the DFT Communications Pops Series at Rockefeller Arts Center presents the 2008 Commencement Eve Pops Concert: “Big Band Classics.”

Tickets are available at the SUNY Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center, by phone at 716-673-3501 (1-866-441-4928) or online.

Traditionally, the Commencement Eve Pops concert is one of the season’s highlights – and this year’s program is no exception. Featuring Bruce Johnstone and the Little Apple Big Band, the concert will include some of the greatest big band songs of all time.

Sponsored by the Fredonia and Silver Creek Penny Savers, the concert will feature tunes made famous by Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, the Andrews Sister, Frank Sinatra and others.

The songs include “String of Pearls,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “Stormy Weather,” “Satin Doll,” “Blue Skies,” “Let’s Dance,” “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Sing Sing Sing,” “Stompin’ at the Savoy,” “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “Moonlight Serenade” and “In the Mood.” 

Helping to bring the songs to life will be student performers chosen by competitive auditions earlier this semester. They are: Amanda Chmela, Richard A. Montgomery II, Ben Pfeil, Eric Rubinstein, Victoria Vargas and Debbie Williams.

The concert will close the 2007-08 Lake Shore Savings Season at Rockefeller Arts Center. 

Rockefeller Arts Center Director Jefferson Westwood noted the recent renovation of King Concert Hall will enhance the concert experience. 

“Our recent improvements to the electrical and rigging systems are giving us much more control over lighting and sound, and we will be working especially hard on this concert to get the balance of sound just right,” Westwood said.

Bruce Johnstone

The annual Commencement Eve Pops Concert is a tradition that goes back more than 15 years. 

“The idea of programming in this time slot was started by Grant Cooper, then the music director of the Fredonia Chamber Players,” said Westwood, who is the producer of this year’s concert. “Within a few years, Rockefeller Arts Center got involved in the annual gala, eventually taking over all responsibilities for repertoire, casting, marketing and production.” 

In order to diversify the options for programming selections, Westwood decided to branch out by backing up the student singers with a 17-piece big band instead of a 55-piece orchestra.

“This greatly expanded our programming options, as there is a greater availability of vocal charts for big band than there is with orchestra,” he said.

Previous big band commencement eve themes have been “Salute to the Big Apple,” “The Best of Broadway” and “Hollywood Hit Parade.”