South Shore Conservatory's Summer Spotlight 2016 Season Tickets on Sale

Tickets to South Shore Conservatory’s (SSC) 2016 season of its Summer Spotlight outdoor concert series are on sale as of May 1. This celebratory season marks the 20th anniversary for the series, which features shining examples of excellence in performance at SSC, and includes the popular Evenings Under the Stars Saturday evening concerts, and much-loved Wacky Wednesdays family concerts. All performances take place in the Jane Carr Amphitheater at One Conservatory Drive in Hingham.

Wacky Wednesdays family concerts, sponsored by the The Harold and Avis Goldstein Trust, start on June 29 with high-energy, award winning interactive entertainer Karen K and the Jitterbugs, featuring toe-tapping original music for tots and grownups alike. Back by popular demand, family favorite entertainer Keith Munslow combines rock solid funky piano tunes, hilarious stories and lightning fast cartooning on July 6. The remainder of the series features three more returning beloved acts, including Little Groove, on July 13, playing fun, catchy, educational, and danceable music for children and adults on July 13. Always a favorite, Boston-based children’s singer-songwriter Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys perform their original music in an encore Wacky Wednesdays performance on July 20. Grammy-nominated Zak Morgan performs for his second year in the series, delivering his unique brand of children's music and poems that tickle the funny bone on July 27. As always, complimentary lemonade and chocolate milk are on tap for thirsty children and adults alike.

Evenings Under the Stars (EUS) Saturday evening concerts feature the talents of SSC musicians and students at all of 20th anniversary season performances. EUS launches its 20thcelebration on July 9 as the Evenings Under the Stars Festival Orchestra, with Hingham-native conductor Nicholas Palmer, presents Let the Celebration Begin, featuring works of Shostakovich, Beethoven, Gershwin, Tchaikovsky and more. SSC Concerto Competition winner, pianist Karen Ji performs Rhapsody in Blue with the orchestra. On July 16, WGBH radio’s Brian O’Donovan takes the stage in A Celtic Sojourn Roots and Branches Concert, with traditional and contemporary artists from the Celtic world in a highlight of the series. SSC fiddle students join in the fun. On July 23, SSC’s Jazz/Rock/Pop faculty presents The Big Swing: The music of the swing era, featuring tunes of the 30’s and 40’s, by favorites such as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Dorsey, and Glenn Miller. On July 30, SSC voice faculty members, Snug Harbor Chorus singers, and vocal friends of SSC perform together in A Grand Night for Singing: The music of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Historically, this vocal performance has always been a fan favorite, and with so many recognizable tunes from Broadway musicals such as The King and I, Oklahoma, Carousel, and The Sound of Music, this year is expected to draw the same full audience.

Preconcert receptions allow EUS concertgoers to relax with a glass of wine and light appetizers, converse with other music lovers, and find out a little bit about each performance ahead of time.

Evenings Under the Stars Festival Orchestra concert is sponsored by Hingham Institute for Savings, The Big Swing is sponsored by Jane Carr and Andy Hertig, and A Grand Night for Singing is sponsored by Dorothy Palmer.

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

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. With the exception of A Celtic Sojourn, cabaret seating for six is available at Evenings Under the Stars concerts for $140 per table, and includes a bottle of wine. Preconcert reception tickets are $25.

Tickets for Wacky Wednesdays family concerts are $15 adult and $5 children. Season subscriptions to the four Saturday evening concerts are available for $240 for pavilion and $180 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. For more information or to order tickets, visit www.sscmusic.org or call 781-749-7565, ext. 22.

About South Shore Conservatory

South Shore Conservatory, (SSC) has been providing access to and enriching the lives of South Shore residents through music and the arts for 45 years. Recognized as a national model for arts education by the National Guild for Community Arts Education, SSC is the largest, not-for-profit, community school for the arts in Massachusetts, serving over 3500 students of all ages and abilities at its two beautiful campuses and in partnership with schools, and social service and community agencies throughout the South Shore. Students participate in more than 50 diverse programs in music, dance and drama, with performance playing an important role in overall education. With more than 100 exceptional musicians on faculty, SSC offers 30 professionally produced concerts annually. Through innovative partnerships, SSC’s Creative Arts Therapies department supports the mental, emotional, and physical health of some of our community’s underserved members, and the ImagineARTS program strengthens pre-reading skills for young learners in Brockton Schools through integrated music and dramatic play. SSC’s campuses are located at One Conservatory Drive, Hingham, (781-749-7565) and 64 St. George Street, Duxbury (781-934-2731). 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, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram 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.