DCINY to Present LIFE AND REMEMBRANCE Memorial Day Concert at Lincoln Center, 5/25

Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) presents Life and Remembrance, a special concert at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center in honor of Memorial Day, on Monday, May 25 at 7:00pm.

The concert features a modern day Requiem by American composer Mark Hayes, along with a world premiere setting of the Lord's Prayer, by Pepper Choplin. Eighteen superb ensembles from across America will join together as the Distinguished Concerts Singers International, alongside the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra, and conducted by the two composers.

For its annual Memorial Day concert, DCINY once again presents a special appearance by The Patriot Brass Ensemble, which will play the Armed Service Medley, along with other patriotic tunes, to honor those in the audience who have served in each branch of the US Military. In addition, DCINY is extending complimentary tickets to Veterans and active Military.

Military personnel with proper ID may sign up for tickets at DCINY's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DistinguishedConcertsInternationalNewYork

Inspired by the legacy of the great classical Requiems -- from Mozart to Duruflé -- Mark Hayes's Requiem was first premiered by DCINY in 2012. Using both Latin and English texts, Hayes set seven of the twelve movements of the Requiem Mass in this profound but very personal Requiem, which he dedicated to his parents. The powerful baritone solo role is sung by Mark Gilgallon.

Pepper Choplin's Our Father: A Journey Through The Lord's Prayer is a deeply spiritual and inspired setting of the essential Christian prayer. In using both traditional phrases from the King James version and modern English, Choplin "hopes this cantata will help the listener to connect personally with the prayer so that it will become a powerful moment of communion with God."

Mark Hayes is an award-winning concert pianist, composer, arranger and conductor. His personal catalog, totaling over 1,000 published works, includes works for solo voice, solo piano, multiple pianos, orchestra, jazz combo, small instrumental ensembles, and choruses of all kinds. He has conducted his own works Carnegie Hall, including the world premiere of his Requiem in 2013, and The American Spirit at Lincoln Center in 2012. Last November, Hayes conducted his Requiem at St. Ignatius Basilica in Rome, as part of the Festival Pro Musica E Arte Sacra, sponsored by the Vatican.

Mark Gilgallon is making his Avery Fisher Hall debut in Mark Hayes' Requiem, which he recorded with the composer this past December. Mark is returning to New York after having made his DCINY solo debut at Carnegie Hall in June 2009 for the Shawnee Press 70th Anniversary concert. A familiar face to Indianapolis audiences, Mr. Gilgallon has sung over twenty roles with the Indianapolis Opera and has performed in numerous Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Pops concerts, as well as with symphonies in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and with the Cincinnati Pops.

A composer, conductor and humorist, Pepper Choplin has gained a reputation as one of the most creative writers in church music today. Beginning his music training at the age of four, he grew up singing and playing piano, trumpet, guitar and banjo. Choplin incorporates varied styles such as folk, Gospel, classical, and jazz, in his music. His published work includes over 230 anthems for church and school choir, 13 church cantatas and a book of piano compositions. Each week, thousands of singers present his music in churches and schools in the United States and around the world. In 2013, he made his Carnegie Hall debut in a joint concert with Joseph Martin, presented by DCINY.

The Patriot Brass Ensemble was established to improve the quality of life for Veterans and Military Families through musical programs and services, performing concerts to raise moral and show Veterans how much their service means to their country, and ensuring that there is live music at Memorial Day and Veterans ceremonies. The Ensemble is currently based in 11 cities across the country, including New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. For more information, see www.patriotbrass.org.

Distinguished Concerts International New York Founded by Iris Derke (general director) and Jonathan Griffith (artistic director and principal conductor) Distinguished Concerts International is driven by passion, innovative vision, a total belief in its artists, and unwavering commitment to bringing forth unforgettable audience experiences. DCINY is a creative producing entity with unmatched integrity that is a talent incubator, a star-maker, and a presenter of broadly accessible, world-class musical entertainment. For more information about upcoming DCINY musical events around the world, visit www.DCINY.org.

Tickets $20 - $100 at www.lincolncenter.org or CenterCharge at 212.721.6500.