Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor

Marblehead, MA, April 22 2010 – Well known Boston and North Shore vocalists Rebecca Kenneally and Daniel Blake will be the guest performers at this year’s Star Spangled Pops concert in Marblehead’s historic Abbot Hall on Saturday, May 15.  A fund raiser hosted by the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor, the event is held on Armed Forces Day as a tribute to both active and retired servicemen and women who have and are helping to build and protect this nation.

An active choral director and singer in the Boston area, Rebecca Kenneally is Coordinator of Performing Arts at Endicott College, in Beverly, MA, where she is the director of choirs and music, theater and dance programs.  Daniel Blake has 28 opera roles to his professional credit and has sung throughout the United States. He currently has Private Voice Studios at Boston Children’s Theatre and in Beverly, MA.

A musical “Salute to Broadway” is the theme of this year’s concert  which will be performed by the Hillyer Festival Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Dirk Hillyer.  The event will open with eleven year old Marblehead resident and Village School 6th grader Paige Vigneron performing the Star Spangled banner.

The evening will feature popular selections from Broadway hits including Chicago, the King and I, Cats and Showboat and Rebecca Kenneally and Daniel Blake  will perform numbers including “ Whistle a happy tune” from the King and I,  and “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables.  George James Macdonald, a 4th grader at Marblehead Village School will join Kenneally and Blake to sing “Love makes the world go round” from Carnival and “If I loved you” from Carousel.

Proceeds from the Star-Spangled Pops will benefit the philanthropic projects of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor.  Doors will open at 6.30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Balcony tickets are available from Arnould Gallery and the National Grand Bank. in Marblehead and will be available at the door.  Floor tickets can be ordered by mail and the order form can be found on the website www.rcomh.org.  Table tickets on the main floor are $30 each and balcony seats are $20 each.  For more information about the concert, contact Don or Linda Doliber at 781-631 6938.

Biographies:

Dirk Hillyer, who lives in Marblehead is well-known and respected by North Shore audiences for his full and rich programs, and maintains an active performance schedule as both a conductor and French horn player.   He founded The Hillyer Festival Orchestra in Peabody, Massachusetts in 1998 and has conducted over 100 concerts in Peabody, Marblehead, Salem, Lynn, and Boston (WCRB Esplanade Series for five years).  He was invited to participate in conducting workshops led by Pierre Boulez (2002) and Daniel Barenboim (2004) both at Carnegie Hall.  Hillyer played French horn in the Boston Lyric Opera’s production of Jacques Offenbach’s “Tales of Hoffmann” under the direction of Keith Lockhart and he has also conducted The Bostonian Opera & Concert Ensemble’s production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Yeomen of the Guard.”

Rebecca Kenneally is an active choral director and singer in the Boston area. As Coordinator of Performing Arts at Endicott College, in Beverly, MA, Ms. Kenneally is the director of choirs and musical theater as well as overseeing the music, theater and dance programs. She directs the 70 voices of the Old North Church Youth Choirs, maintains a private voice studio, and is the choral director for Music at Port Milford Music Festival in Ontario, Canada. Previously, she was the Director of the Women’s Chorus and Assistant to the Director of Choral Activities at New England Conservatory of Music.
 
Ms. Kenneally was the Youth Ensemble Director for the Boston Early Music Festival productions of: Acteon by Charpentier, and Venus and Adonis by John Blow in 2008/9. Other directing credits include: Carnival (EC 2010); Kiss Me Kate  (EC 2009); The Last Five Years (MLT 2008); How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying… (EC 2007); co-direction of the youth chorus in The Little Prince (Boston Lyric Opera Company); and New England Conservatory Light Opera Company, and Boston University opera scenes productions.

Daniel Blake has 28 opera roles to his professional credit and has sung throughout the United States including NYC, Seattle, Minnesota, Connecticut, Houston, Philadelphia, and Utah Opera Companies.  His roles include: Nemorino from L'Elisir d'Amore; Count Almaviva from Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Mr. Owen from Postcard from Morocco; Little Bat from Susanna; the Witch from Hansel and Gretel; and King Kaspar from Amahl and the Night Visitors.  Daniel's Oratorio and Early Music background is extensive including Tenor Soloist in the Messiah, Elijah, Mozart Requiem, Monteverdi Vespers, Carmina Burana, as well as many of Haydn's cantatas and 26 of Bach's Oratorios and cantatas including the Evangelist in both the St. Matthew and St. John's Passions. His Music Theatre credits include National Tours of Elder Patrick in Mame with Carol Lawrence, Evita, and Desert Song.
 
Daniel received his Bachelor of Music Degree from Washington State University,  Masters of Music Degree from Hartt Conservatory of Music in Connecticut and did post-graduate studies at Julliard School of Music in New York City where he studied with Enrico DiGiuseppe and coached with Joan Dorneman of the Metropolitan Opera.  He currently has Private Voice Studios at Boston Children’s Theatre and in Beverly.

Paige Vigneron is 11 years old and a 6th grader at the Village School in Marblehead. Currently, she sings three times a week in Boston with the Trinity Church Choir.  In addition to singing with Maestro Hilyer, she has sung the Star Spangled Banner at numerous other occasions including twice at the Boston Garden for the Celtics – once in 2007 and once last December.  

One of her favorite recent singing accomplishments was winning a trip to Chicago to see the Boston Red Sox by singing “Take me out to the Ball Game” for Jerry Remy.  Her next goal is to be invited to sing the National Anthem at a Red Sox game.   In addition to singing, she enjoys musical theater, playing piano, swimming and playing softball.

George James MacDonald is a 4th grader at the Village School in Marblehead. He began his singing career with the Old North Church Cecelia choir at the age of 6 under the guidance of Rebecca Kenneally.  George’s first stage performance was as the youngest of the King’s children in the 2006 Marblehead High School production of “The King and I” directed by Henry Dembowski. His biggest accomplishment to date was performing with the Boston Early Music Festival in two operas, “Venus and Adonis” and “Acteon” where he played a cupid, a wolf and a party guest.  His most recent role was as the March Hare in the Village School’s production of “Alice and Wonderland”. George also enjoys playing soccer, basketball and baseball as well as learning to play the trumpet.

Mark your calendar: The third annual Star-Spangled Pops will be presented by the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor on Saturday, May 15, 7:30 p.m. at Abbot Hall.

Maestro Dirk Hillyer and the Hillyer Festival Orchestra will enthrall the audience with an evening’s “Salute to Broadway,” and Rebecca Kenneally will be the featured soloist. May 15 is also Armed Forces Day, and the men and women of our military and their families will be honored at this fabulous Star-Spangled musical evening celebrating American life.

Floor-table tickets will be available by mail-in reservation only, and the form will appear in the April 15 issue of the Marblehead Reporter. Balcony tickets will be found at the Arnould Gallery, 111 Washington St., and the National Grand Bank, 91 Pleasant St., after April 15.

Mail in Ticket Form for Floor Table Tickets

Watch the Reporter and MHTV for more information.

Mark your calendar: The third annual Star-Spangled Pops will be presented by the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor on Saturday, May 15, 7:30 p.m. at Abbot Hall.

Maestro Dirk Hillyer and the Hillyer Festival Orchestra will enthrall the audience with an evening’s “Salute to Broadway,” and Rebecca Kenneally will be the featured soloist. May 15 is also Armed Forces Day, and the men and women of our military and their families will be honored at this fabulous Star-Spangled musical evening celebrating American life.

Floor-table tickets will be available by mail-in reservation only, and the form will appear in the April 15 issue of the Marblehead Reporter. Balcony tickets will be found at the Arnould Gallery, 111 Washington St., and the National Grand Bank, 91 Pleasant St., after April 15.

Watch the Reporter and MHTV for more information.

 

 

The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor’s third annual Star-Spangled Pops concert will be held on Saturday, May 15 at Abbot Hall.  The musical event will feature The Hillyer Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Dirk Hillyer in a dazzling event to recognize those who helped build and protect this nation. 

Proceeds from the Star-Spangled Pops will benefit the activities and philanthropic projects of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor.