New York Pops Present Ella Fitzgerald's Gershwin Songbook w/ Patti Austin

On March 16, 2012 at 8:00pm, The New York Pops orchestra, led by Music Director Steven Reineke, celebrates the 65th anniversary of Ella Fitzgerald's Carnegie Hall debut with a commemorative performance at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage.

Grammy-winner Patti Austin joins The New York Pops to pay homage to Fitzgerald's classic album of the George and Ira Gershwin songbook.

The program features Nelson Riddle's original symphonic arrangements of Gershwin works in their Carnegie Hall debut – including "I Got Rhythm,"S'Wonderful," and "Our Love Is Here to Stay" – and an appearance by Nelson Riddle's son, Christopher Riddle. The concert is produced in association with the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation and the Nelson Riddle Foundation.

"I am so excited to pay tribute to my favorite singers of all time, Ella Fitzgerald," said Steven Reineke. "The charts that were created for her Gershwin Songbook album have never before been performed live with full orchestra in New York City. The powerhouse vocals of Patti Austin and the legendary arrangements by Nelson Riddle will create a dynamic combination and make Carnegie Hall feel like the Cotton Club."

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Patti Austin is a talented soul and jazz singer whose career spans more than 50 years of wonderful music-making. The Goddaughter of musical legends Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington, Austin garnered national attention for her jazz albums in the late 70s. In her album Street of Dreams, Austin began to channel her immense talents toward interpreting jazz standards, and does so most successfully in 2002 with her album For Ella – a salute to Ella Fitzgerald. In late 2007, Austin released Avant Gershwin, her own interpretation of the Gershwin songbook. Austin's work on the album earned her a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance.

Steven Reineke's boundless enthusiasm and exceptional artistry have made him one of the nation's most sought-after pops conductors, composers and arrangers. As Music Director of The New York Pops, Reineke conducts the orchestra's annual Carnegie Hall concert series, leads concert tours, recordings and nationwide telecasts. Mr. Reineke is the newly appointed Principal Pops Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he serves as Principal Pops
Conductor of the Long Beach and Modesto Symphony Orchestras. Previously, he was Associate Conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, where for fifteen years he served as a composer, arranger and conducting protégé of the late celebrated pops conductor Erich Kunzel.

Steven Reineke's notable guest conducting appearances include the Boston Pops, Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra and his debut at the Hollywood Bowl in 2007. Reineke is also an
established symphonic composer, with his works most recently performed by the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic.

ABOUT THE NEW YORK POPS
The New York Pops is the largest independent pops orchestra in the United States, and the only professional symphonic orchestra in New York City specializing in popular music. Led by Music Director Steven Reineke, the orchestra performs an annual subscription series and birthday gala at Carnegie Hall, enjoying one of their highest subscription renewal rates.

The New York Pops was founded by Skitch Henderson in 1983 with a mission to create greater public awareness and appreciation of America's rich musical heritage. Along with performing at Carnegie Hall, The New York Pops tours throughout the world and gives free concerts in New York City parks. The New York Pops' extensive education programs allow thousands of public schoolchildren to participate in concert and music-making experiences at Carnegie Hall and in
schools throughout the five boroughs of New York City.

ABOUT THE Nelson Riddle FOUNDATION
The Nelson Riddle Foundation was established in 2010 by the Riddle family to preserve the vast musical legacy of its namesake and to pass on the gift of music through educational programs and support. The Nelson Riddle Orchestra, a registered trademark of the family's foundation, is perhaps one of the most iconic brands in American music history with over half billion records sold since first appearing with Nat King Cole in 1953. All profits from the orchestra are combined
with donations and grants to provide promising musicians, composers and arrangers with stipends, education or instruments. These musicians, in turn, are required to pay forward their gift of music to benefit their own communities.

Francis Kiernan, co-founder and Executive Director of the Foundation says: "The energy and goodwill that the public shows towards this music never ceases to amaze us. Our job is to harness that energy and channel it in a way that will benefit not just the musician but the communities in which they live and causes for which they are passionate."

THE Ella Fitzgerald CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Created and founded in 1993 by Ella Fitzgerald, the First Lady of Song, the foundation strives to fulfill her desire to use the fruits of her success to help people of all races, cultures and beliefs. Ella hoped to make their lives more rewarding, and she wanted to foster a love of reading, as well as a love of music. In addition, she hoped to provide assistance to the at-risk and disadvantaged members of our communities - assistance that would enable them to achieve a better quality of
life. The Board of Directors of the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation seeks to continue Ella Fitzgerald's goals by making charitable grants serving four major areas of interest: creating educational and other opportunities for children, fostering a love and knowledge of music, including assistance to students of music, the provision of health care, food, shelter and counseling to those in need, and specific areas of medical care and research with an emphasis on Diabetes, vision problems and heart disease. The Foundation operates to help the disadvantaged, the at-risk and the needy, whether these conditions have arisen because of financial, medical or other circumstances. The Foundation strives to help this target population help themselves to make a better and more meaningful life for themselves and for their families.

TICKETS
Single tickets are priced from $37 to $108. Purchases can be made at the Carnegie Hall Box Office (57th Street and 7th Avenue) or by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800. Visit www.carnegiehall.org for more information.