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Bill Woodward bill@woodtheater.org Charles Wood Theater 518-798-9663 www.glensfallsregion.com/event/richard-glazier-41988/ 207 Glen Street Glens Falls, NY 12801 |
The Public Broadcasting Special show “From Garland to Gershwin” featuring Richard Glazier, who is scheduled to perform at the Wood Theater on February 17 and 18, 2012, will be repeated on Vermont Public Television on Sunday January 15 at 2:00 pm. Vermont Public Televison is available through Time Warner Cable on Channel 17 in the Glens Falls area. This airing is from a request by the Wood Theater to familiarize the local area to Mr Glazier’s talent.
World famous PBS Pianist Richard Glazier makes a return trip to the Wood Theater in Glens Falls with his “Richard Glazier Salutes American Popular Song with a Special Tribute to Maurice Whitney.” Mr. Glazier performed at the Wood Theater in 2008 and has returned after some very big years which included his own PBS Special : the afore mentioned “From Gershwin to Garland” . Included in his tributes to the great American composers at the Wood Theater Concert will be a Tribute to Maurice Whitney, the foremost arranger of the Gershwin songbook. Maurice Whitney had many best selling sheet music arrangements of the great Gershwin hits and Mr Glazier will play them.
Maurice Whitney was the Music Director at the Glens Falls High School for many years and conducted and directed for the Glens Falls Operetta Club (Glens Falls Community Theater). Many locals will remember Maurice and his great musical talent and Mr. Glazier will give them a chance to hear Gershwin as Maurice did. Maurice Whitney was born in Glens Falls, New York in 1909 and died in 1984. He earned degrees form Ithaca College and New York University. He attended Teachers College, Columbia University, and the Westminister Choir School, and the New England Conservatory. A performer, a conductor, and an arranger of music for dance and theater orchestras, he served as choir director and organist in churches, taught in school systems and colleges, and served in positions of leadership for music education. His works include theory and band texts and scores for small ensembles, band and choir. Mr. Whitney’s professional honors included a citation from Ithaca College for outstanding work in music education, New York State Teacher of the Year award, and an honorary doctorate from Elmira College.
In his previous concert at the Wood Theater Glens Falls in 2008 sponsored by The Crandall Public Library, Mr. Glazier mentioned his admiration of the Gershwin transcriptions by Maurice Whitney and that he was thrilled to be in Mr. Whitney’s hometown. He was also very pleased to meet many of Maurice’s friends and students. In discussions with Bill Woodward, Executive Director of the Wood Theater, Mr. Glazier offered to return and perform a tribute to Maurice Whitney as part of a larger concert performing music from his PBS Special and other songs from the American Songbook. The Wood Theater and Mr. Glazier found that the February 17 and 18 dates were free for both in 2012. Mr. Glazier and his wife will be flying in from California and will be staying at the Queensbury Hotel where Maurice performed and attended events regularly.
The show is being co-sponsored by the Glens Falls Community Theatre aka The Glens Falls Operetta Club which was very special to Maurice Whitney as he musically directed many oratorios and musicals for the organization from 1940 to 1966.
Tickets to the Glazier concerts on February 17 and 18 @ 8:00 pm are available at the Wood Theater Box office by calling 518-874-0800 Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12-5 or 24/7 on line at www.woodtheater.org.
