MOUNT VERNON – Saturday night’s free concert in the Memorial Theater by Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra will feature an evening of music and song celebrating Frank Sinatra’s centenary year. It also marks the fifth anniversary of the Community Foundation’s successful music scholarship program in honor of Mount Vernon’s renowned bandmaster Vaughn Wiester.
Famous Jazz Orchestra founder Vaughn Wiester took center stage with his instrument of choice at the 2014 music scholarship benefit concert. He and his orchestra return to the Memorial Theater this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for the fifth annual free concert. Photo submitted
Wiester’s 21-piece ensemble will be joined again on stage by vocalist Brian Michael Smith who will accompany several of the Sinatra arrangement’s Wiester has chosen for the concert. Last year’s scholarship winner Rachel Aust, a first year vocal student at the Cleveland Institute of Music will also take the stage to sing with the FJO, as well as to display her operatic talent.
In announcing the theme for this year’s concert Weister said, “Sinatra is certainly among the very greatest of 20th century artist/entertainers, not only because he set the standard for great singing, but also for casting a spotlight on the best of America’s song literature. In so doing he often brought an entirely new dimension of weight and meaning to songs that were already well known.
The Famous Jazz Orchestra will celebrate the Sinatra legacy with interpretations of numbers by some of Frank’s gifted arrangers – musical giants in their own right – such as Nelson Riddle, Neal Hefti, Quincy Jones and Billy May.”
Wiester added, “I have been amazed by the generous support of the Mount Vernon community for the scholarship fund. Hopefully this successful venture will serve as an inspiration for other communities to celebrate their own musical heritage, and to support their own emerging musicians.”
As has been the case since the benefit concert’s inception in 2011, admission to the concert is free to everyone, with voluntary donations to the scholarship fund in any amount welcomed. Community Foundation Executive Director Sam Barone said advance individual and corporate sponsorship of this year’s concert has already exceeded $7,000, adding to the scholarship endowment of more than $30,000. An additional $12,500 has been awarded in music scholarships.
Doors open at the Memorial Theater Saturday (April 18) evening at 6:30 p.m. with a concert starting time of 7:30 p.m. And remember, it’s free!
