Armonk Summer Concert Series Archives

Dates/Location
July 8 • July 22 • August 5 • August 19 • September 9 • 8 PM
Wampus Brook Park • Armonk, NY

Free Admission
Admission is free . . . bring your lawn chair, your picnic basket, your family and friends.

Blues and Swing
The Swingaroos
July 8 • 8 pm

NYC/Westchester blues and swing group, The Swingaroos, entertain with their original 1930-40’s-inspired tunes as well as forgotten goodies by world-famous bandleaders Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw. Their jive is hot swing with Hollywood class and a Vaudeville spirit. Members include Kimberly Hawkey, Assaf Gleizner, Dan Glaude, and Nat Ranson.

Jazz and Soul
Charlie Lagond
July 22 • 8 pm

Co-Founder of Lagond Music School, Charlie Lagond has worked as a professional musician for over 35 years, performing around the world with artists including Chet Baker, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Bernard Purdie, Chuck Mangione, The Jackson Five, the Temptations, Natalie Cole, and Kid Creole & the Coconuts, with whom he has performed at several presidential inaugural balls and at a Command Performance by request of Princess Diana.

Broadway Classics
Donaldson, Hager, Harrington,
O’Brien, and Chee
August 5 • 8 pm

Enjoy some of Broadway’s muical classics with Laura Donaldson, Daniele Hager, Liz Harrington, and Nellie O’Brien along with Katie Luekens Chan Chee as their accompanist. Ms. Hager returns from our summer concert in 2016 and Ms. Donaldson, Ms. Harrington, and Ms. O’Brien performed in The Small Town Theatre Company’s last production of “Steel Magnolias.”

Opera
New Rochelle Opera
August 19 • 8 pm

New Rochelle Opera has been thrilling audiences with imaginative full opera productions since 1985. Critics and audiences alike have praised the brilliance and professionalism of their performances. The Company’s mission is to create a deeper understanding and appreciation of live opera by providing top quality, professional opera performances to local audiences, and giving aspiring young singers an opportunity to showcase their talents in a full-length opera production.

In the event of inclement weather
our concert will move to Whippoorwill Hall
adjacent to the North Castle Public Library
just 1 block west of Wampus Brook Park.

SmallTownTheatre.com

for additional information and updates

North Castle Parks and Recreation along with the following sponsors have contributed generously to support this program.

Breezemont Day Camp

JMC Site Development Consultants

Lashins Development Corp

Veneziano and Associates

Faculty Practice Services

Inside Out with Opera

Pools of Perfection

Beascakes Bakery

Hickory & Tweed

The Swingaroos perform at Whippoorwill Hall Theatre on July 9, 2016 as part of the Armonk Summer Concert series. Front row from left: Kimberly Hawkey (vocals), Dan Glaude (clarinet), Nat Ranson (trombone), Ray Cetta (upright bass) seen in rear. Marianne Campolongo Photo.

By Marianne A. Campolongo

Stormy weather did nothing to hamper the opening night of the Armonk Summer Concert Series. Although they had to postpone their plans for a picnic under the stars at Wampus Brook Park’s gazebo until the following weekend, a near-capacity crowd turned out at Whippoorwill Hall Theatre to see The Swingaroos, a spirited young band who cover jazz, blues, and pop standards from 1930 to 1945, as well as performing original tunes penned by the band’s vocalist Kimberly Hawkey and pianist Assaf Gleizner. The other band members are Dan Glaude on the saxophone and clarinet, Nat Ranson on trombone, Ray Cetta on bass and Uri Zelig on drums.

Kimberly Hawkey of the Swingaroos performs at Whippoorwill Hall Theatre on July 9, 2016 as part of the Armonk Summer Concert series. Marianne Campolongo Photo.

Hawkey said she and the band actually preferred the indoor space. “It felt like an old 1940’s theatre and the sound was great. The audience was really receptive. Some of them were grooving in their seats. You need inspiration, especially when you’re playing jazz because much of it is improvised. It was a fun group to play for, a great audience.”

The free Summer Concert Series, held twice a month in July and August, is produced by Sam Morell, a semi-retired chemical engineer, who volunteers for many town activities, under the aegis of The Small Town Theatre Company.

“We have very gracious sponsors,” said Morell. The Town of North Castle and several local businesses lent financial support, and raffles were held during intermission. The summer’s line-up included Charlie Lagond (jazz), the New Rochelle Opera, and Hager, Ibarra, Schulman, Spielman, and Johnson singing Broadway show tunes.

“The best social media are people getting together not virtually but bringing a picnic basket, a lawn chair and sharing some food together with friends and listening to a concert,” said Morell. “Saturday evening under the stars and the moon.”

Marianne Campolongo is a professional photographer and writer from Chappaqua. Visit www.campyphotos.com.