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Music by the Lake 10th Anniversary Season Tickets on Sale April 15
4/6/2010
WILLIAMS BAY, Wis. — Season ticket sales begin Thursday, April 15, for the 10th anniversary season of Music by the Lake at George Williams College of Aurora University, 350 Constance Blvd. in Williams Bay, Wis. Performances will be held in The Ferro Pavilion located on the shores of Geneva Lake.
The summer season of eight performances includes the Main Stage Series, with four Saturday evening performances; the Sundays at 4 Series, featuring classical chamber music performances; and the season finale Spotlight Concert.
The Main Stage Series
New York City's leading baritone, Brian Stokes Mitchell, will perform with award-winning conductor Paul Gemignani in an opening night of show-stopping hits from the great American musical stage on Saturday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. Equally acclaimed in concert halls across the country, and in television and film, Stokes' sold out performances at the Hollywood Bowl, Disney Concert Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Tanglewood, Ravinia and Symphony Hall have been praised by critics nationwide. He will be joined by Gemignani, the illustrious conductor of more than 38 Broadway and West End musicals along with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in an evening of legendary songs from the "Great White Way." This performance is underwritten in part by the generous support of Don and Marilyn Hedberg.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performs their original dance tunes that fuse classic American sounds from jazz, swing, Dixieland and big band music, Saturday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m. The group concentrates on the swinging days of the 1940s and 1950s, borrowing some of the Rat Pack lingo and the zoot suits that characterized this ever-popular era. Formed in Los Angeles in 1992, the group built up a loyal fan base of Gen-Xers who were swingin' to the sounds of the great big bands. When the 1996 comedy film "Swingers" was released featuring Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on its soundtrack, the group's popularity soared. By 1999 the group had released several more songs, sold more than three million albums, and performed with Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan at Super Bowl XXXIII. By 2003, the group expanded their sound to include elements of "The Big Easy" - jazz, swamp funk and Cajun. One year later the group dug even deeper into hardcore jazz and swing, performing the music of Cab Calloway.
Verdi's operatic masterpiece, "La Traviata," will be presented on Saturday, July 24, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Main Stage Series and Sunday, July 25 at 4 p.m. as part of the Sundays at 4 Series. "La Traviata" will be conducted by Christine Flasch, Executive Director of Music by the Lake and sung in Italian with supertitles. This classic features a story of family strife, blighted love and redeeming sacrifice. The performance is supported in part by Young Artist Underwriter Harold Hartshorne, Jr. A special dinner featuring an Italian menu prepared by a guest chef will be available prior to the performances.
Ann Hampton Callaway will perform her signature songs with a superb big band orchestra, Saturday, Aug. 7, at 7:30 p.m. One of the finest singer songwriters of our generation, The New York Times writes, "For sheer vocal beauty, no contemporary singer matches Ms. Callaway." Her talents as a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger and educator have made her at home in jazz and pop as well as on stage, in the recording studio, on TV and in film. Callaway has won numerous nominations and honors including an unprecedented 14 awards from the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs. This performance is underwritten in part by the generous support of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation.
The Sundays at 4 Series
Guitarist John Jorgenson, a pioneer of the American Gypsy Jazz movement, will perform classic standards and original compositions in this year's Jazz Café, Sunday, July 18, at 4 p.m. Jorgenson will lead his group with dazzling guitar, clarinet, and masterful vocals. Although he is highly regarded in the pop, country, and rock world, gypsy jazz is the style of music closest to his heart. He is the founding member of the Desert Rose Band and the virtuosic guitar trio, the Hellecasters. He was also a six-year member of Elton John's band. This exhilarating performance of classic standards and original compositions by the master of gypsy jazz will feature world-class musicians on rhythm guitar, acoustic bass, five-string viola and percussion.
Frank Almond, acclaimed concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, performs with internationally recognized, award-winning pianist William Wolfram in a stunning duo recital, Sunday, Aug. 1, at 4 p.m. Both Juilliard trained soloists, Almond plays a 1715 Stradivarius violin in a spectacular program showcasing the artist in solo and duet repertoire. Both artists have distinguished themselves in concert appearances with the country's leading orchestras, and they remain active as recitalists and chamber musicians. Almond directs the highly successful Frankly Music Chamber Series based in Milwaukee. His talent as a chamber musician has generated collaborations with many of today's well-known institutions and festivals. Wolfram, winner of some of the world's most prestigious piano competitions, enjoys close associations with the Dallas, Milwaukee, and Minnesota orchestras.
The operatic classic masterpiece, "La Traviata," will also be presented Sunday, July 25 at 4 p.m. as part of the Sundays at 4 Series.
The Sundays at 4 Series is underwritten in part by the generous support of the Judith and John Graff Charitable Fund.
The Spotlight Concert
Grammy Award winner Peter Frampton performs in the season finale Saturday, Aug. 14, at 7:30 p.m. Frampton remains one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history. Known for his platinum early hits, his fifth solo album "Frampton Comes Alive!" is one of the top selling live records of all time. He received a 2006 Grammy Award for the all-instrumental work, "Fingerprints" and his most recent album, "Thank You Mr. Churchill," is an autobiographical collection. This performance is generously underwritten by The J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation.
Season tickets go on sale Thursday, April 15. Season ticket packages range in price from $395 to $90. Single tickets, including tickets for the Spotlight Concert, go on sale Monday, May 3. Main Stage and Sundays at 4 Series prices range from $80 to $15 and Spotlight Concert ticket prices range from $100 to $15. Seating is available in the Dress Circle, Orchestra, Rear Orchestra and Terrace for each performance, except Terrace seating is not available for Sundays at 4 Series performances on July 18 and Aug. 1.
For tickets, call 866-843-5200 toll free or 262-245-8501 or e-mail mbtl@aurora.edu. Secure online ordering will be available beginning April 15 at musicbythelake.com.
The 2010 Music by the Lake concert series is generously supported by Platinum sponsors Fairwyn Investment and Development; Gold sponsors Grand Geneva, Keefe Real Estate (Honorary Presenting Sponsor), and Scherrer Construction; Silver sponsors Aurora Health Care, Balestrieri Development and Environmental, Inc., Community Bank Delavan, HGA Architects and Engineers, Johnson Bank, Lake Geneva Cruise Line and Gage Marine, M&I Bank, Sodexo Campus Services, Voyager Capital Management, LLC, Walworth State Bank, and Wells Fargo Private Bank.
Aurora University is an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. Approximately 4,000 degree-seeking students are enrolled each year on the university's Illinois and Wisconsin campuses, and the university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association to award degrees at the baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral levels. The George Williams College campus offers 17 academic programs, unique conference facilities, and is home to Music by the Lake and other education and enrichment programs.
Note: Media may download print-quality photos by going to the Music by the Lake press room at musicbythelake.com/press.
