The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Presents - MICHAEL CAVANAUGH IN CONCERT: The Songs of Elton John and More!

    KALAMAZOO, MI, April 14, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For the third and final performance of the 2014-2015 KSO Pops! Series, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents Michael Cavanaugh In Concert: The Songs of Elton John and More! Sir Elton Hercules John, knighted in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II, is considered to be one of the greatest solo artists of all time. His hits include Rocket Man, Honky Cat, Crocodile Rock, Daniel, Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Bennie And the Jets. Join the KSO in a tribute to this star for the ages!

From singing to songwriting, the six-time Grammy Award winner Elton John is among the top artists in the world. For almost five decades, he has delivered hit after hit and still maintains an unrivaled popularity among audiences and listeners. The KSO Pops! invites Michael Cavanaugh to celebrate the music of this all-time favorite artist. A musician, performer and actor, Mr. Cavanaugh is also on his way to earning a spot among music's greats, both in the concert hall and on the Broadway stage. He earned Grammy and Tony Award nominations for his role in the Broadway production, Movin' Out and now tours the globe, performing at major events and in concert halls alongside symphony orchestras. In performance with the KSO Pops!, he revisits the music of Elton John and more, accompanied on stage by his band, percussionist Johnny Fedevich, guitarist Giovanni Mastro, bassist Billy V., and Jamie Hosmer on keyboard.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Raymond Harvey, conductor
With an immediately noticeable style that has been described as "elegant, but suffused with energy," Raymond Harvey (conductor) has garnered critical acclaim on symphonic podiums throughout the United States. Maestro Raymond Harvey has served as Music Director of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and recently renewed his commitment to the KSO for an additional four years. Mr. Harvey was previously Music Director of the Springfield Symphony in Massachusetts and the Fresno Philharmonic in California.

Equally at home in the world of opera, Mr. Harvey served as Artistic Director of the El Paso Opera in Texas. Among the many productions he has conducted are Carmen, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Boheme, Turandot, Aida, La Traviata, The Tales of Hoffman, The Marriage of Figaro, and Cosi Fan Tutte.

Recognized as an outstanding pianist, choral conductor and teacher, Raymond Harvey holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Yale School of Music. He has been a frequent guest teacher for the Conductors Institute at Bard College, and for the American Symphony Orchestra League's Conducting Workshops. He also serves as adjunct faculty conductor with the University of Houston's opera department.

Michael Cavanaugh, vocals
Michael Cavanaugh is the New Voice of the American Rock & Roll Songbook. A charismatic performer, musician and actor, made famous for his piano/lead vocals in the Broadway Musical Movin' Out. Michael Cavanaugh was handpicked by Billy Joel to star in the title role and evokes a style rivaling the Piano Man. Michael appeared in the show for 3 years and over 1200 performances, receiving accolade after accolade, which culminated in 2003 with both Grammy and Tony award nominations.

Michael began playing at age 7, when his parents bought their first piano. Encouraged by family and friends, and inspired by his hero Billy Joel, Michael formed his first band at age 10 and began playing local functions, fine-tuning the craft that would become his chosen career. His first full time gig as a musician was an extended engagement in Orlando, Florida at a piano bar called Blazing Pianos. In January of 1999, Michael received an offer that would unknowingly change his life; an opportunity to play Las Vegas at the famed "New York, New York Hotel and Casino." It was there that Billy Joel spotted Michael and joined him on stage one fateful night of February 2001. It only took 2 songs before Billy was convinced that he had found his new Piano Man, Michael Cavanaugh. Michael closed up shop at New York, New York and moved to New York City to work alongside Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp, to shape the Broadway Musical that would be called "Movin' Out".

With the close of Movin' Out at the end of 2005, Michael began touring in his own right, creating a show that reinterprets the modern pop/rock songbook. Michael soon became one of the hottest artists in the corporate/events market. He continues to perform worldwide for company and charity events as well as sporting events including PGA tour events, the US Open, and the Indy 500. It wasn't long before Symphony Orchestras discovered Michael's talents and audience appeal. He accepted his first orchestral booking, "Michael Cavanaugh - The Songs of Billy Joel and more" which debuted in April of 2008 with the Indianapolis Symphony and continues to tour. In October 2008, he signed with Warner/ADA to distribute his first CD, titled In Color. In June 2010, Michael debuted his second symphony show in the "Generations of Rock" series, entitled "Michael Cavanaugh: The Songs of Elton John and More!" and then debuted his third symphony show "Singers and Songwriters: The Music of Paul Simon, Neil Diamond and James Taylor" in 2012. He continues to tour all three symphony productions.

CALENDAR LISTING

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents

KSO Pops! Series

Michael Cavanaugh in Concert: The Songs of Elton John and More!

Raymond Harvey, conductor
Michael Cavanaugh, vocals
Johnny Fedevich, drums
Jamie Hosmer, keyboards
Giovanni Mastro, guitar
Billy V., bass

Sir Elton Hercules John, knighted in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II, is considered to be one of the greatest solo artists of all time. His hits include Rocket Man, Honky Cat, Crocodile Rock, Daniel, Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Bennie And the Jets. Join the KSO in a tribute to this star for the ages!

Friday, April 24 at 8pm

Miller Auditorium

Tickets: $60 - $24

For tickets, visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com.

Visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com for up-to-date information, details and schedules. Prices, artists, dates, time and program are subject to change without notice.

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra receives major support from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra also receives generous support from other local, state and national foundations, as well as private and corporate support. For more information, visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com.

About the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1921, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra is Southwest Michigan's premier musical organization, providing musical enrichment to over 80,000 adults and youth per year. The third-largest professional orchestra in the state, the KSO has won numerous awards and grants, including the Met Life Award for Arts Access in Underserved Communities, the National Endowment for the Arts for its extensive education programs, and a major Ford Foundation grant to found its innovative Artist-in-Residence program.

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