2009 – 2010 Season

 

SUNDAY OCTOBER 11, 2009

3:00PM

 

MAC FRAMPTON

 

The Van Cliburn Competition...The Boston Pops...22 albums... acclaim abounds, but the most revealing accomplishment of Mac Frampton is his faithful fanbase. After studies at Erskine College and Cincinnati Conservatory, Van Cliburn himself heard Frampton improvising pop and jazz and suggested he pursue it professionally.

 

Since then, Frampton’s piano-bass-drum trio has won adoring fans through over 3000 concerts throughout North and South America, Europe, and the Mideast, and holds many records for return engagements. Bill Cosby, Roberta Flack and the late Victor Borge, all for whom Frampton played, agreed: Mac Frampton’s classically-based “rock-alternative” style has the power to keep audiences coming back for more.

 

“An immensely talented pianist.”

Billboard Magazine

 

“Electrifying!”

The Atlanta Constitution

WEDNESDAY JANARARY 13, 2010

8:00PM

 

NEARLY NEIL & THE SOLITARY BAND

 

In 1994, a legendary path was set in motion when Vancouver-born Bobby Bruce won a talent show with his incomparable impersonation of Neil Diamond. For fourteen years, Bruce has never looked back, playing for thousands of screaming fans throughout North America, Australia, New Zealand and Asia with his dead-on Diamond tribute.

 

Legends in Concert (Las Vegas)… Bally’s Park Place (Atlantic City)… Legends in Concert (Australia)… Kuala Lumpur (private royalty performances)… a crowd of 30,000 in Calgary… audiences and critics alike are amazed with Bobby Bruce and the Solitary Band’s “Nearly Neil” -- a “clever and disarming” performance with “to a tee” pizzazz and style (Adelaide Advertiser)!

 

“… brought the house down.”

Adelaide Advertiser (Australia)

 

“… as good as the real thing.”

Whakatane Beacon (New Zealand)

  

MONDAY,  FEBRUARY 8, 2010

8:00PM

 

RED HOT HOLLYWOOD!

 

From the silver screen to the stage, Matt Davenport Productions Inc. presents a thrilling “red carpet” review of Hollywood’s greatest music memories.  A versatile cast of eleven sing, dance and recreate magical movie memories by Gene Kelly, Astaire and Rogers, Julie Andrews, Donald O’Connor, Judy Garland and more. Our talented Music Director/accompanist serves as host, portraying varied Hollywood icons, such as the Director, Producer, ticket-taker, stage hand and more to tell Hollywood’s musical story.

 

From the golden age of Singin’ in the Rain, Mary Poppins and The Wizard of Oz, we’ll fast-forward to today’s contemporary movie musicals, including Chicago, Grease and Hairspray. Creative stage adaptations of Academy Award-winning compositions like “My Heart Will Go On,” “Take My Breath Away,” and “A Whole New World” will fill the stage with cinematic proportions.

 

An array of colorful sets and costumes sparkle around innovative musical arrangements and choreography as the auditorium comes alive with the sound of movie music.



THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010

8:00PM

 

DANIEL RODRIGUEZ

 

Former New York City police officer, Daniel Rodriguez has experienced a meteoric rise to fame. He was one of his department’s designated anthem singers on September 11, 2001, when fate intervened -- he rendered a capella performances of “God Bless America” and the National Anthem that proved far greater than a patriotic gesture. Ringing, heartfelt and beautiful, his performance stirred the hearts of the entire nation.

 

Since then, he has performed at venues ranging from 2002 Winter Olympics, to Disneyland, to The White House. A pillar of courage and faith, Daniel Rodriguez is truly an inspiration, who freely shares his deep appreciation for life, God and country.

 

“… the second coming of Andrea Bocelli…”

The Trades Online

 

“a real voice… full-bodied singing…”

New York Times

  

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010

8:00PM

 

PAPA DUKE

 

Blend traditional Slavic and gypsy music with a touch of pop, a dash of jazz, add vigor to spectacular boil, then enjoy the feisty celebration of Papa Duke, led by master violinist Vasyl Popadiuk. By the age of 17, Vasyl was composing and arranging most of his own material at Kiev Conservatory of Music. He has since become a Russian favorite, playing for heads of state including Mikhail Gorbachev and the late King Hussein of Jordan. Now, Popadiuk headlines regularly throughout Europe, the US and the Ukraine.

 

Featuring four additional renowned virtuosos on bass guitar, percussion, keyboard & guitar, Papa Duke’s genre-defying fusion absolutely raises the roof – an experience you won’t ever forget!

 

“Papa Duke rocked our house!”

Strings In The Mountains Music Festival (CO)

 

“What a show!!”

Welland-Port Colborne Concert Association (CAN)