The upcoming season will feature three major concert events, staged at the corner of West Jefferson and Franklin Streets, starting at 8:00 P.M.
- Saturday, July 7 - Symphony Syracuse Brass Quintet
- Saturday, July 14 - Central New York Jazz Orchestra
- Saturday, August 11 - Mario DeSantis Orchestra
A lively night of stirring music July 7 jump starts Armory Square Association’s 28th annual Candlelight Series, headlined by the Symphony Syracuse Brass Quintet as the main concert preceded by the LuBossa! Trio. Shows begin at 7:00pm on the Candlelight Stage located at the corner of West Jefferson and Franklin Streets.
The two stylistic groups featured on that July Saturday night have both entertained audiences over the years, each by their engaging presentations of diverse music played by musicians easily recognized for their excellence in performance.
In a repertoire that spans from renaissance madrigals and brass chorales to big band tunes, Sousa marches and popular tunes arranged for brass, the Symphony Syracuse Brass Quintet has given hundreds of concerts at various venues, including educational and outreach programming in Central New York communities. The quintet consists of two trumpets, one horn, one trombone, and one tuba. Artists doing those instrumentations and a little background on each are:
John Raschella is currently Principal Trumpet, having previously held that position with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. Raschella has also performed as Co-Principal Trumpet with the Pittsburgh Symphony as well as with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the orchestras of Houston, Buffalo, Rochester and Jacksonville. Additional credits include Principal Trumpet of the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina, the Spoleto festival in Italy, and as a frequent performer at the Skaneateles, NY festival.
Jared Bushee, trumpet, has performed in orchestras and music festivals across the Unites States and having been involved with marching bands in a number of different capacities now serves as the Visual Coordinator for the Cicero-North Syracuse Marching Band. Bushee was with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra since 2008 to its closing.
Jon Garland, Principal Horn in the former SSO for several years, performed elsewhere with many North American orchestras including the Seattle Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Honolulu Symphony, and Harrisburg and Charleston Symphonies. In addition to his performing schedule, he teaches at Syracuse University, and at Hamilton and LeMoyne Colleges.
…more John Sipher, Principal Trombone formerly with the SSO and a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, began his trombone studies in his hometown of Roanoke, VA and received his Master of Music Degree in Trombone Performance from Yale University. He has performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Colorado Symphony Orchestra and the Rochester Philharmonic.
Michael Coldren, tuba, is an affiliate artist and instructor of tuba and euphonium at Syracuse University. While completing studies at the State University of New York at Potsdam-Crane School of Music he was awarded the “Outstanding Performer’s Certificate.” He has performed with the Binghamton Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of Northern New York, Potsdam Brass Quintet, SSO, and on the international level with the Crane School of Music’s wind ensemble.
Taking the stage ahead of the Symphony Syracuse Brass Quintet is LuBossa! – a jazz trio specializing in Bossa Nova, a well-know style of Brazilian music meaning “New Trend” that was developed and became popular in the ‘50’s and 60’s. The music is a lyrical fusion of samba and jazz. In its first Candlelight Series appearance, the group’s repertoire will include songs written by Antonio Carlos Jobim who was a primary force behind the creation of the bossa style. One song called ‘Meditation’ speaks the language of the style which is characteristically nostalgic, lightly melancholic and always about love. Another melody about love is a favorite of the trio, Edith Piaf’s popular composition, “La Vie en Rose.”
LuBossa, formed in 2002 by Jason Kessler and Luba Lesser, consists of acoustic guitarist Kessler, whose own jazz group, ‘Seaflight’ has opened for Chick Corea and Dizzy Gillespie at major jazz festivals and whose compositions have been featured on the nationally aired PBS video, “All American Jazz;” vocalist Lesser, whose music spans opera to jazz in a career that started in Moscow, Russia and continued here in the United States with performances in local groups, including Syracuse Vocal Ensemble, Syracuse University Oratorio Society and Syracuse Opera; and bassist Mike Solazzo, whose credits include performances with the Four Lads, the Four Aces and the Glen Miller Orchestra. Lesser currently teaches voice and piano and is an adjunct professor of voice at Onondaga Community College. Solazzo taught instrumental music for 23 years in the Skaneateles School District.
The 28th Candlelight Series will continue with major concerts by the Central New York Jazz Orchestra on July 14 and the Mario DeSantis Orchestra Celebrating its 65th anniversary on August 11. Details on the rest of the season will follow in separate releases to media.
A free program of the Armory Square Association, Candlelight Series is made possible by a grant secured by Senator John A. DeFrancisco and with funds from the New State Council on the Arts Decentralization Grant Program, a State agency, and the Cultural Resources Council, Regional Arts council. The City of Syracuse, Downtown Committee and several Armory Square businesses provide additional support.
Candlelight 2012 Government & Business Supporters
DeFrancisco Grant (NYS Senate)
CRC and NYSCA
Downtown Committee
First Niagara
Eric Mower & Associates (EMA)
Delavan Center
Benjamin’s on Franklin & Mullys
Pastabilities
Jefferson Clinton Hotel
Lemon Grass and Bistro
Jet black and Bounce
Blue Tusk
Clinton St. Pub & Holmes Pub
P J’s Pub & Grill
Eureka Crafts
Elsbeth Rose
