South Shore Conservatory's Evenings Under the Stars Presents The Big Swing

South Shore Conservatory’s Evenings Under the Stars concert series continues its 20th anniversary celebration with The Big Swing: The Music of the Swing Era on Saturday, July 23, at 7 pm. Sponsored by Jane Carr and family, this is the third of four EUS Saturday evening open air summer concerts in the Jane Carr Amphitheater at One Conservatory Drive, Hingham.

The Big Swing features trumpeter Rob Reustle leading SSC's Jazz/Rock/Pop faculty performers in an evening of unforgettable, rhythmic music of the Big Swing era, with a special focus on the spectacular 30’s and 40’s. The 10-piece band takes the audience down memory lane with the music of swing greats such as “King of Swing” Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Cab Calloway, Fletcher Henderson, Hoagy Carmichael, and Bunny Berrigan.

This popular era of music combines clever harmonies, improvisational brilliance, and dance ability, so shedding your shoes and dancing on the lawn is encouraged, according to SSC’s Director of Performance Beth MacLeod Largent. Performers will weave in brief explanations of the tunes, but much of the familiar music speaks for itself.

In addition to Reustle on trumpet, SSC faculty members performing include Maria Marini and Emily Browder Melville on vocals, John McCarthy on guitar, Ed Sorrentino on drums, John Vanderpool on saxophone, and Jonathan Roberts on piano. Guest artists include Doug LaRosa on trombone, John Clarke on saxophone, and Rod McCaulley on bass.

Prior to the concert audience members are invited to have light hors d’oeuvres and drinks, mingle with other guests and meet the performers at a pre-concert reception. Massa Products Corporation is the sponsor of this reception.

Evenings Under the Stars is one of two series in the Conservatory’s diverse Summer Spotlight outdoor summer entertainment. Summer Spotlight also includes fun Wacky Wednesdays family concerts which started its season on June 29 with Parents’ Choice award winner Karen K & the Jitterbugs. All concerts take place in the Jane Carr Amphitheater at One Conservatory Drive in Hingham, which completely updated its lighting and sound system last year, thanks to Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, a program of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, administered through a collaborative arrangement between MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and individuals who generously donated the matching funds required as part of this grant.

The final Evenings Under the Stars performance, A Grand Night for Singing: The Music of Rodgers and Hammerstein on July 30, features SSC’s talented voice faculty.

Tickets for Evenings Under the Stars performances purchased before the day of the concert are $40 for pavilion and $25 for lawn seating. Evenings Under the Stars tickets purchased at the door are $45 for pavilion seating and $30 for the lawn. Preconcert reception tickets are $25. 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. 22.

For more information about all South Shore Conservatory programs and events, visit www.sscmusic.org or follow us on Facebook.

About South Shore Conservatory

South Shore Conservatory, recently recognized as a national model for arts education by the National Guild for Community Arts Education, is celebrating nearly 45 years of enriching the lives of South Shore residents through music and the arts. SSC was founded as a not-for-profit community music school in 1970 and now has two beautiful campuses in Hingham and Duxbury. Currently serving over 3500 students of all ages and abilities, SSC is the largest community school for the arts in Massachusetts. Students participate in more than 50 diverse programs in music, dance and drama. Through innovative partnerships with social service agencies, SSC’s Creative Arts Therapies department supports the mental, emotional, and physical health of some of our community’s more fragile members. SSC’s Hingham campus is located at One Conservatory Drive, Hingham, 781-749-7565. SSC’s Duxbury campus is located at the Ellison Center for the Arts, 64 St. George Street, Duxbury, 781-934-2731. South Shore Conservatory is a member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. SSC programs are supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information call us, follow us on Facebook or visit www.sscmusic.org.

In keeping with SSC’s inclusive mission to provide access to quality education in the arts for all, the Conservatory offers programs for all segments of the population to enjoy, regardless of age, ability, geography, and financial means. Furthermore, South Shore Conservatory admits students and families of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.