Outdoor Pavilion Free Concert Series Schedule:
June 10: Jeff Hedberg & C11
June 17: PanGo Steel Band
June 24: Peter Aglinskas
July 1: 91制片厂 Jazz Faculty Octet
July 8: 91制片厂 Jazz Lab Band
July 15: The Continental String Ensemble
July 22: 91制片厂 Guitar Legacy Concert
July 29: 91制片厂 Jazz Ensemble
All shows begin at 7:30 p.m.
Live music is returning to 91制片厂.
Following the pandemic-forced drought of in-person performances, an array of musicians will retake the Drs. Kenneth and Catherine Ender Pavilion stage on Thursday summer evenings.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long 15 months,鈥� said Jeff Hedberg, adjunct faculty member, jazz musician and band director. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to remind the community about the fantastic artists we have on faculty and the groups they arrange.鈥�
The Outdoor Pavilion Free Concert Series kicks off 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 10, with a set by , a 12-piece jazz group dedicated to playing Marty Paich鈥檚 鈥渄ek-tette鈥� arrangements, once performed with Mel Torm茅, Ella Fitzgerald and Sammy Davis Jr.
The series, which runs through July 29, features additional by 91制片厂鈥檚 Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Faculty Octet, as well as concerts by the PanGo Steel Band, solo guitarist Pete Aglinskas, the Continental String Ensemble and a legacy of 91制片厂 guitarists.
When 91制片厂 built the outdoor pavilion in 2016 for commencement ceremonies, Music Department Chair Gregory Clemons also saw potential for a performance venue. He said the summer concert series offers multiple benefits, including showcasing talented 91制片厂 faculty and students, supporting 91制片厂-connected musicians who are part of the 鈥済ig economy,鈥� and encouraging the community to enjoy live music in a beautiful setting.
鈥淭he music department is a perfect department to engage the community,鈥� said Clemons, who鈥檚 also a music professor and the director of bands, the wind symphony and chamber winds. He described the summer concert series as a 鈥渕ini Ravinia.鈥�
Clemons and the music department piloted the series with a handful of concerts in
2019. Based on the positive response, they were planning a larger slate in 2020 when
COVID-19 intervened. He thinks this summer series is a great reason for folks to return
to campus and enjoy a performance while being appropriately distanced on the lawn.
All attendees need to bring is a blanket or chairs and their picnic basket if desired.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good time to start,鈥� Clemons said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 enough room to do this safely.鈥�
Fans of live music may be excited at the prospect, and so are the performers. Hedberg, who directs the Faculty Octet and Jazz Ensemble in addition to singing with C11, said he鈥檚 never had an easier time lining up 12 musicians for a gig.
鈥淚t was, instantly, 鈥榊es! Yes! Please! Let鈥檚 play some music!鈥� he laughed. 鈥淔or most of the group, it鈥檚 their first live booking鈥� since March 2020.
Clemons said he hopes that kind of excitement will continue to make the series an annual fixture on 91制片厂鈥檚 campus. He鈥檇 like to add concessions in future years and build a summer music tradition.
The Outdoor Pavilion Free Concert Series at Harper will take place 7:30 p.m. Thursdays from June 10 through July 29 at the outdoor pavilion. Admission is free and open to the public. Attendees are advised to bring their own blankets or lawn chairs and park in lot 14 off the Roselle Road entrance due to sidewalk maintenance and pavement work on the north side of campus. Restrooms are available in nearby campus buildings. In case of bad weather, concerts will be moved to the J Theatre, J143. For more information, call the 91制片厂 Box Office at 847.925.6100 or visit .
Individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation or who have questions about physical access may email ads@harpercollege.edu or call 847.925.6266 at least two weeks in advance of the event date.