Musikfest to perform in Downing Park

Newburgh —The Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra, in collaboration with the City Of Newburgh, will present The Downing Park Summer MUSIKFEST on Saturday, July 28, at 4 p.m., with returning guest conductor, Richard Haglund. Directed by Woomyung Choe, the orchestra performs MUSIKFEST as a free, annual concert of light and lively favorites, including Broadway and movie tunes, marches and America the Beautiful. Guest artists are a triple treat this summer: saxophonist Todd Maxwell Williams, performing Villa Lobos’ Cantilena from “Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5” and Michel Legrand’s Theme from “Summer of ‘42,” Michele George singing Gershwin’s Someone to Watch Over Me and Sondheim’s Broadway Baby, and boy soprano C. J. Sokolowski in Hudson Valley resident Howard Shore’s Symphonic Suite from “Lord of the Rings.” Student-musicians from the area, extended the opportunity to perform with a live orchestra, will also be joining the orchestra. The renowned “Kiddie Conductors,” the real stars of MUSIKFEST, are the children from the audience. Every child present is invited to take a turn at conducting the Orchestra in a rousing rendition of John Philip Sousa’s Washington Post March following a brief lesson by Maestro Choe. An educator, performer and conductor, Haglund is Assistant Conductor of The Illinois Symphony and Music Director of the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony. He has conducted professional orchestras and choirs throughout the world, including the St. Petersburg Hermitage Orchestra of Russia, the National Symphony Orchestra and Radio Choir of Ukraine, and the Varna Philharmonic of Bulgaria. Locally, he has served as Assistant Conductor of the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra and Bard Community Chorus. Minneapolis-born Haglund is also a percussionist and orchestral musician, having performed with professional groups in Minnesota and New York. Saxophonist Williams met Wynton Marsalis--the man who brought jazz back to center stage in the US--backstage during a concert intermission when he was only sixteen. Williams was asked to demonstrate his musicianship before the whole band on none other than brother Branford Marsalis’ instrument. Most recently, Williams has been a featured guest artist during Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Coltrane 80th birthday celebration, as well as bandleader and composer for recorded performances of the Grand Reunion Band live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. He is a four-time recipient of ASCAP’S annual Special Awards for composers. Vocalist-violinist George teaches orchestra in Monroe-Woodbury Central School District and plays violin with GNSO, Orange County Classic Choral Society, Dorian String Quartet and in the pit orchestras of various local musicals. She has recently had performing roles in “Seussical, the Musical” for the Robert Souza Scholarship Program and “Damn Yankees” for Creative Theater Muddy Waters Players. C. J. will be a junior at Kingston High School and has already been studying voice for 4 years with Claudia Cummings, piano for four years, trumpet for seven7 years and participates in local theater. He has been accepted at the Vocal Pre-College Division at the Manhattan School of Music beginning in September. His operatic and classical repertoire includes male soprano and baritone ranges. At MUSIKFEST youngsters are free to run while the adults relax. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and hear lighthearted music in the idyllic park setting. Food and beverages will be available from Cracolicci’s Pizzeria & Restaurant. In case of rain, the concert will be held at the Newburgh Free Academy High School Auditorium. This concert is made possible, in part, by Price Chopper Supermarket. Call 913-7157 or go to www.newburghsymphony.org for more information. POPS IN THE PARK, a repeat of this concert, is sponsored by Tuxedo Performing Arts Group and will take place rain or shine on Sunday, July 29 at 4 p.m. at the Tuxedo Park School. Call 845-351-3473 for ticket prices and information.