CNY Jazz Orchestra, Syracuse Symphony musicians to perform
2009-08-30
Big Band Swing show kicks off Fair Senior Days
The Central New York Jazz Orchestra and members of the Syracuse Symphony will treat Fair visitors to a free Big Band Swing show at Chevy Court on Aug. 31. The 2 p.m. performance will feature vocalists Nancy Kelly and Ronnie Leigh and kick off two days of Fair events aimed at seniors.
Monday, Aug. 31 and Tuesday, Sept. 1 will be senior days at the Fair. People age 60 or older with proper identification will get in for free. Fair tram rides will also be free those two days.
In addition to classic Swing-era music by members of the Jazz Orchestra and the Symphony, the Chevy Court lineup for Aug. 31 also features the legendary Four Tops, who will play at 8 p.m.
On Sept. 1, the Fair's second senior day, Sha Na Na will perform oldies rock 'n roll at 2 p.m. on Chevy Court. That evening, the Colgate Country Showdown will bring the best amateur country musicians in New York together for a FREE, 7:30 p.m. show at the Mohegan Sun Grandstand.
"Our seniors - our grandparents and our grandmothers, our mothers and fathers - deserve a fun day at the Fair, and we are happy to do what we can for them," Fair Director Dan O'Hara said. "Together, the CNY Jazz Foundation and the Syracuse Symphony will bring some of New York's most talented musicians to the Chevy Court stage, where they'll perform timeless music that people of all age groups will enjoy."
Also on Monday, Experience Works, a national organization dedicated to promoting senior participation in the workforce, will hold an awards ceremony on Chevy Court. That begins at 1:30 p.m.
On Monday and Tuesday, the New York State Office for the Aging will have a tent set up in the Infield Area where senior citizen buses drop off visitors to the Fair. On Tuesday, Michael Burgess, director of, will be manning the agency's booth Seniors are invited to meet him and ask questions about the agency and its services.
Monday's Big Band Swing Show features the combined forces of Central New York's finest orchestras join to accompany internationally acclaimed vocalists Nancy Kelly and Ronnie Leigh in a tribute to the finest singers and songwriters of the 20th century.
The 39-piece combined orchestra led by Artistic Director Bret Zvacek will fill the stage with music ranging from lush ballads to hard hitting-swing selections made famous by Ellington, Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, Count Basie and many more.
"Central New York can boast of the finest musical artists imaginable, both instrumental and vocal, and we'll be showing them off in style," said Larry Luttinger, CNY Jazz director and concert organizer, "Look out, Manhattan, look out Vegas...it doesn't get any better than this. If you're a fan of the Great American Songbook, claim your seats early."
The Big Band Swing show, like all Chevy Court concerts, is free with admission to he New York State Fair.
The performance is part of this year's expanded format on Chevy Court, which doubled the number of top-quality entertainers who perform on the free stage from 12 to 24.
The Fair will run from through Sept. 7. Tickets are $10 at the gate. Children 12 and under are free.
The Fair offers a wide variety of food, entertainment, attractions and agricultural contests that are enjoyed by people of all ages. The following attractions and performances, however, may be of particular interest to seniors:
Monday, Aug. 31
11 a.m. The Nottingales senior singing group, New Times Theatre in the Art & Home Center
11 a.m. Cheese carving by Sarah Bauman in the Dairy Products Building. Also at 1, 3 and 5 p.m.
12 p.m. Squeeze Play Accordian Band, Grange Bulding. Also at 2 p.m.
12 p.m. Henrietta Senior Line Dancers, New Times Theatre in the Art & Home Center
12:30 p.m. Cooking demonstration by the state Department of Aging and Youth, Wegmans/Pride of New York Demonstration Kitchen in the Art & Home Center.
1 p.m. Piano and organ concert by Tim Schramm and Dennis Overholt, New Times Theatre in the Art & Home Center. Also at 3 p.m.
2 p.m. CNY Jazz and Syracuse Symphony Big Band Swing Show - Chevy Court
2 p.m. Organ recital by Wendell Rotter, New Times Theatre in the Art & Home Center. Also at 4 p.m.
3 p.m. Downhome Country Cloggers, Grange Building
3 p.m. Salt City Brass, Pepsi International Pavillion. Also at 5 p.m.
3:30 p.m. Benjamin Vitale, from the CNY Regional Market, demonstrating in the Wegmans/Pride of New York Demonstration Kitchen in the Art & Home Center
4 p.m. Bill Delany, Celtic music performance, Grange Building
6 p.m. Erie Canal Cloggers, Grange Building. Also at 8 p.m.
8 p.m. The Four Tops - Chevy Court
Tuesday, Sept. 1
11 a.m. Wegmans chef Sally Zella demonstrating in Wegmans/Pride of New York Demonstration Kitchen in the Art & Home Center
11 a.m. Fritz's Polka Band, Pepsi International Building. Also at 1 and 3 p.m.
12 p.m.: Noth'n Fancy barbershop quartet, Grange Building. Also at 2 and 4 p.m.
12 p.m.: Fulton Senior Chorus, New Times Theatre in the Art & Home Center
1 p.m. Silent films with organ accompaniment, New Times Theatre in the Art & Home Center
1:30 p.m. Experience Works award ceremony, Chevy Court
2 p.m. Sha Na Na, Chevy Court
3 p.m. Organist Wendell Rotter, New Times Theatre in the Art & Home Center
3 p.m. McCarthy Sing-A-Long, Agricultural Museum. Also at 5 p.m.
3:30 p.m. Mark Antzak, of Glen Loch restaurant, Wegmans/Pride of New York Demonstration Kitchen in the Art & Home Center
4 p.m. "Roadhouse Razzmatazz" by Organist Harvyn Tarkmell. New Times Theatre in the Art & Home Center. Also at 5 p.m.
6 p.m. Erie Canal Cloggers, Grange Building. Also at 8 p.m.
6 p.m. Dance Lovers of CNY, New Times Theatre in the Art & Home Center
7:30 p.m. Colgate Country Showdown, Mohegan Sun Grandstand
For the latest concert announcements and Fair news, sign up for e-mail and text message updates at www.nysfair.org.
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