UPDATED: Rain and storms forecast for Sunday has caused the Mass. Symphony to postpone Sunday's free concert at Institute Park until July 25.
The orchestra will perform a program entitled "Jazz in the Park: Celebrating Great African-American Composers."
For more information, contact the Mass. Symphony at 508-754-1234.
The Massachusetts Symphony presents two free summer concerts this July to celebrate its 70th year of admission-free performances in Worcester's Institute Park. The Orchestra's "Salute to Disney" will be on Sunday, July 11, 2021 at 7:00 PM. The following week, on Sunday, July 18 at 7:00 PM, the orchestra will perform a program entitled "Jazz in the Park: Celebrating Great African-American Composers." Conductor Jorge Soto will lead both concerts. Rain date for the series is Sunday, July 25.
For the Disney Salute, vocal soloists Taylor Lawton, tenor, and Elisabeth LaBarre, soprano, together with the orchestra will be featured in well-known Disney and Pixar selections. Repertoire includes musical highlights from "Moana," "Frozen," "Planes," "Brave," "The Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast," "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Pocahontas," and "Aladdin," among others. Bobbie Chase will be the announcer.
The Mass. Symphony Orchestra announces three July concerts as part of its 70th consecutive season of open-air concerts in Worcester. (Patrick O'Connor)
For the Jazz concert, the orchestra will be joined by special guests artists including drummer Yoron Israel, head of the percussion department at Berklee College of Music in Boston, trombonist Angel Subero, Assistant Professor of trombone and brass studies at the Boston Conservatory and Berklee, and Rich Kelley, first call trumpeter with the Boston Pops. Repertoire for this concert includes Handy's "St. Louis Blues," Duke Ellington's "Caravan," "Take the A Train," and "Satin Doll," Count Basie's "One O'clock Jump," Mercer Ellington's "Things Ain't What They Used to Be," Miles Davis' "Vierd Blues," and "All Blues," and "St. Thomas" by Sonny Rollins.
Additional selections include "Mary Ann" and "What I'd Say" by Ray Charles, John Coltrane's "Mr. P.C." and "Impressions," "Watermelon Man" by Herbie Hancock, and Louis Armstrong's "When the Saints Go Marching In." Musician and Music Educator Ron Williams will be the announcer for this concert.
Not yet registered on the016.com? Sign up today and be the first to know what's going on in and around Worcester! Registration is free and easy
Commenting on these performances, Paul Levenson, MSO Executive Director and son of MSO founders Harry and Madelyn Levenson, said that he and the orchestra are greatly looking forward to these performances for a number of reasons. First, he said these concerts will mark a milestone in the organization's history, with the first performance debuting under his father's baton on Sunday, September 9, 1951 and now this July marking the start of the seventh decade of free concerts in Worcester's Institute Park. He said that due to COVID-19 these concerts will be the first time in over a year that MSO musicians will have the opportunity to perform together as an ensemble, so there is great anticipation for getting everyone together again on stage. Levenson also said that the Jazz concert is particularly exciting because several of the featured performers have actually played with the featured composers. He noted that trumpeter Rich Kelley had performed with Ray Charles, and that drummer Yoron Israel has performed with Sonny Rollins. "It can't get more authentic than that," noted Levenson.
Conductor Jorge Soto holds a Master of Music Degree in Conducting and a Bachelor of Music in violin performance both from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. A native of Venezuela, Mr. Soto is a protege of Los Angeles Philharmonic Conductor Gustavo Dudamel and is on the faculty of Boston's Longy School of Music of Bard College. Over the past year, Mr. Soto was selected to conduct performances with the Boston Symphony and Boston Symphony Chamber Players. Taylor Lawton is one of this area's finest popular singers whose credits include major performing roles at Theatre at the Mount, Worcester County Light Opera, and an appearance with Broadway legend Idina Menzel. Elisabeth LaBarre holds a bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance from Anna Maria College and is a frequent singer at the College of the Holy Cross. She has been on the faculty at the Joy of Music and Bancroft School.
These concerts are supported in part by generous grants from the Worcester Arts Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council ("MCC"), a state agency. Major sponsors also include the The Stoddard Charitable Trust, the George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Foundation, IPG Photonics Corporation, Hoche-Scofield Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee, the Hanover Insurance Group, Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation, Reliant Medical Group, Price Chopper Supermarkets/Market 32, Wyman-Gordon Foundation, and WICN 90.5 FM. Additional sponsors include AbbVie Bioresearch Center, American Big Band Preservation Society, Cornerstone Bank, Harr Motor Group, Mela Lew, MCC's MassFestivals Program, Sullivan, Garrity and Donnelly Insurance Agencies, and WXLO 104.5 FM.
What else is happening in and around Worcester? Click here or keep scrolling ⤵️
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (:28). High of 82 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+4:00: Big Y, Stop & Shop locations stop deli meat orders due to listeria outbreak
+4:00: Parking restrictions announced in Canal District on Sunday
+4:00: Part of Highland Street to close for nearly a month
+Noon: It's Friday! Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands before making plans
+Noon: New shows and movies to watch this weekend
+Noon: New movies on demand— "Bad Boys Ride or Die" and more
+Noon: The road takes Grace Potter to Indian Ranch to "share the love"
+Noon: Clemente Writing Project anthology celebration set for Salisbury House
+Noon: Auschwitz exhibit illuminates Holocaust victims' humanity
-220-unit apartment complex in Worcester breaks ground
-Michael Angelini leading exodus of Bowditch & Dewey attorneys to start Worcester office for Boston-based firm
-Out to Lunch series fills Worcester Common
-New fried chicken restaurant in Worcester gets license to open
-Man arrested for hatchet attack in Worcester
-Worcester man indicted on child pornography charges
-Worcester man stopped on moped arrested on drug charges
-National Grid halting energy savings program for low-income households
-Teacher Spotlight: Worcester's Lillian Momanyi makes a difference
-Local schools receive $579,000 for life sciences education
-Worcester's Jacob Hiatt School receives S.T.E.A.M. lab
-Central Mass. universities are infusing A.I. into curricula
-City of Worcester (:36): Trash Talk | Where can I get a city recycling bin?
-Radio Worcester (15:32): Is Worcester’s 311 system helping to clean up the city?
>DINING OUT: Worcester State employee opens Greek restaurant in Worcester
-ICYMI: Worcester police ask for help finding missing boy who could be in Worcester
-Mosquitoes in Worcester test positive for West Nile virus
-Worcester unveils vending machines for pay-as-you-throw bags
-George’s Bakery, Ed Hyder’s and Tasty Experience Bistro can help you beat the summer heat
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Openings on town boards and committees
-See Why People Buy 30 Cars and Trucks at Lamoureux Ford (3:32)
-Holden rower to compete in Paris Olympics
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Sutton superintendent resigns
-Gathering of the tribe at Hassanamisco Nipmuc Nation powwow in Grafton
-Shrewsbury residents can drop off old recycling bins Saturday
-Shrewsbury Marble & Granite builds on experience, customer service
-Man arrested in Clinton after noise and assault complaints from heated arguments with 2 women
-5-duplex Millbury property sold for $1.23 million
-Rutland police to participate in Lilac Hedge Farm’s Touch-a-Truck event Friday and Saturday
-Leicester Public Safety Day August 27th
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Friday
>SHOWTIME: Five Things to Do: African Festival, TAKE3 and more ...
-100FM The Pike (16:39): Yachtley Crew's Philly Ocean and Tommy Buoy help Mike Hsu decide if it's Yacht or not
-"Marvelous Wonderettes" line up for Square One Players of Shrewsbury
-Local dance classes offer a world of personal and cultural discovery
-Bill Shaner: Inside the project to archive runaway slave ads at the American Antiquarian Society
-Giselle Rivera-Flores: Kamala Harris?
-Cassinda Scharff: Avoiding mom burnout
-WCCA-TV's Intern Interviews No. 56 (18:57): Joyce Tavon, CEO, Mass. Housing and Shelter Alliance
-Manny Jae Media Innerviews (39:48): Sebastian Knight of Laurel Clayton
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Vietnam War veteran who worked for the city of Worcester for 37 years
>SPORTS: Calvin Anderson explains how Jerod Mayo is helping Patriots’ culture
-Daryl Morey fuels Celtics-76ers rivalry with latest comments
-Bravehearts fall to Nashua. Next home game: 6:30 p.m. Friday, August 2nd. Los Bravos Night No. 2
-Holy Cross women's basketball weight room (:17)
-WooSox fall to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
>CARS: Bertera Nissan has your next car, truck or S.U.V.! (:42)
>NATIONAL: French train lines hit by malicious acts on day of Olympics Opening Ceremonies
-U.S. arrests 2 leaders of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel
-Tragic: Hero dad dies after saving 2 kids from drowning in river
>NEW ENGLAND: Maine mass shooter had a "hit list," report says
-Family identifies man shot, killed in late-night shooting in Brockton
>COLLEGES: From the Clarkives, exams in the gym, 1969–70
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 7 amazing places to encounter wildlife up close
>BUSINESS: Shoplifting skyrockets by 24% across U.S. in 2024
-LPL Research: Key themes for bonds in the second half of 2024
-Modernizing the electric grid
>HOMES: “Zombie” mortgages coming back to haunt homeowners (2:49)
>SHOPPING: Lowe’s Halloween line goes underwater with Kraken, undead diver
>HEALTH: How to talk to your doctor about reviewing which pills are needed
-New Ozempic data reveals who's on it, prompts shortage fears
>FOOD: Energy drinks pulled from shelves after dire warning issued
>TV/STREAMING: 1990s hit "Homicide: Life On The Street" finally heading to streaming
>MOVIES: "Inside Out 2" becomes Pixar's biggest movie ever at box office
>CELEBRITY: Vanessa Williams is "embracing her age" and ditching Botox at 61
>HISTORY: 10 weird facts about the Great Depression
>ANIMALS: Wild porcupine demands fresh fruit until his paw heals (3:26)
>GOOD NEWS (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Scituate man finds wedding band in Eastham
-Meanwhile, mom praised for "revenge" on scamming ice cream man
Latest obituaries | | Thursday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Quick Links: Personalize your news | | Browse members | | Advertise | | Blogs | | Invite friends | | Videos
Animals | | Boston Sports | | Business | | Cars | | Celebrity | | Colleges | | Commute & Travel | | Crime | | Faith | | Food | | Good News | | Health | | History | | Homes | | Local Sports | | Lottery | | Movies | | National | | New England | | Politics | | Shopping & Deals | | SHOWTIME! | | TV & Streaming | | Weather