South Shore Conservatory to Kick Off Evenings Under the Stars Concerts in Hingham

South Shore Conservatory (SSC) will kick off a "new look" on their popular Evenings Under the Stars (EUS) 2011 performances in July.  Now in its 15^th season, this popular outdoor concert series draws audiences from all around the Greater Boston area.  

New this year, Wednesday mornings are for the whole family!  Evenings Under the Stars presents three family-friendly performances:  Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys on Wednesday, July 20, Puppeteer Dan Butterworth on Wednesday, July 27 and Musician/Cartoonist Keith Munslow on Wednesday, August 3. 

Starting off the 2011 season on Saturday, July 9, is the Evenings Under the Stars Festival Orchestra with Hingham native Nicholas Palmer conducting.  Among this year’s Pops favorites is an encore performance of Music Is… a celebratory piece written by SSC faculty composer John Kramer to commemorate the Conservatory’s 40^th anniversary.  Bay Youth Symphony (BaYS) performed the world premiere of Music Is… in November, showcasing orchestra, student and faculty soloists, chorus and rock band.

On Saturday, July 16, EUS presents Memories:  Celebrating SSC’s 40^th Anniversary in Song, featuring the Conservatory’s exceptional voice and instrumental music faculty.  Audiences will thrill to the sounds of 40 years of Broadway complimented by reprises of some of our most beloved repertoire from EUS’s 15 years, including pieces from HHS Pinafore and Carmen!

Sail Away Ladies with fiddler Eden MacAdam-Somer takes the stage Saturday, July 23.  This groundbreaking contemporary acoustic quartet transforms traditional folk music, world music, and contemporary repertoire, into amazing arrangements with old-time sensibility and a truly adventurous spirit.

Rhythm and Blues take center stage with Soul Kitchen on Saturday, July 30.  Drawing musical inspiration from legendary artists from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, the four-horn section grooves along with tunes popularized by artists like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Otis Redding and Ray Charles.  They boast a tight big band sound.

Bluegrass band Four Bridges entertains on Saturday, August 6.  Their acoustic blend of traditional bluegrass, newgrass, old-time and original music with influences from Ireland, Scotland and the British Isles will leave your toes tapping.

All concerts take place in the Jane Carr Amphitheater, One Conservatory Drive, Hingham.  Saturday evening concerts start at 7 pm and Wednesday morning concerts start at 10 am.  Although onsite parking is available for handicapped patrons, parking for Saturday night concerts for the public is at the Hingham School Bus Depot.  Parking for Wednesday morning concerts is onsite for everyone.

Tickets purchased before the day of the concert are $35 for pavilion and $20 for lawn seating for Saturday evening concerts.  Lawn tickets purchased at the door are $25 for Saturday night concerts. Tickets for the Wednesday morning family concerts are $15 pavilion and $5 lawn.  Season subscriptions to the five Saturday evening concerts are available for $230 for pavilion and $165 for lawn seating and include the pre-concert receptions.  There is no charge for children under three.  Tickets may be purchased online at www.sscmusic.org/evenings_under_the_stars.html. For more information or to order tickets, visit www.sscmusic.org or call 781-749-7565, ext. 51.

About South Shore Conservatory

The largest not-for-profit community school for the arts in Massachusetts, South Shore Conservatory (SSC) was founded in 1970.  Over the last 40 years the Conservatory has remained true to its original mission to provide access to quality education in the arts, and now serves more than 2,500 students ages 9 months to 90, at all skill levels, participating in over 50 programs on site and in outreach programs in partnership with schools and social service agencies throughout the South Shore.   SSC’s main campuses are located at One Conservatory Drive in Hingham (781-749-7565) and at the Ellison Center for the Arts, 64 St. George Street in Duxbury (781-934-2731).

This release was submitted by the South Shore Conservatory.