Kean University Welcomes Polish Baltic Philharmonic and Meshell Ndegeocello Tonight

Kean University will welcome the world-renowned Polish Baltic Philharmonic and ten-time Grammy-nominated bassist and vocalist Meshell Ndegeocello to the Gene and Shelley Enlow Recital Hall (215 North Avenue, Hillside, N.J.) for two highly anticipated concerts in February.

Led by Principal Guest Conductor Boguslaw Dawidow, The Polish Baltic Philharmonic will present an all-Beethoven program tonight, February 6 at 7:30 p.m., while Ms. Ndegeocello, a 2015 Cummings Fellow, graces the stage Sunday, February 21 at 3 p.m. with special guest Christopher Tignor.

Standard tickets for both events range from $35 - $45 with group discounts available; please call (908) 737-SHOW (7469) or visit www.keanstage.com to purchase tickets.

Founded in 1945 on the heels of postwar Polish independence, The Polish Baltic Philharmonic is the largest music institution in northern Poland. The orchestra is visited not only by local music lovers but by cosmopolitan Polish and international patrons alike. The Philharmonic organizes symphonic concerts, recitals, and chamber music soirées performed by the most prominent Polish musicians as well as by many world-famous artists.

Hailed by The New York Times as "a singer-songwriter of searching candor and an electric bassist of mesmerizing skill," Meshell Ndegeocello's vast array of influences include go-go, hip hop, R&B, new wave and punk. Groove driven, infectiously melodic and lyrically meditative, Ms. Ndegeocello's latest album, Comet, Come To Me, was praised by NPR as "one of those rich works that keeps changing inside the listener's head - an often-quiet set of songs with intense staying power." The album features special guests Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) and Doyle Bramhall, along with longtime collaborators Christopher Bruce (guitar) and Jebin Bruni (keys), and Earl Harvin on drums.

Also in February, Kean Stage's 2016 International Film Series (January 24 - March 6) continues in Kean's STEM Auditorium (1075 Morris Avenue, Union, N.J.). We are the Best! (Sunday, February 7 at 3 p.m.), by Swedish auteur Lukas Moodysson, revolves around three girls in 1980s Stockholm who decide to form a punk band, while Lorraine Levy's family drama The Other Son (Sunday, February 14 at 3 p.m.) tells the story of an easygoing Israeli teen who learns he was accidentally switched at birth with a Palestinian boy during a hospital bombing. The acclaimed documentary Emmanuel's Gift (Sunday, February 28 at 3 p.m.), directed by Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern and narrated by Oprah Winfrey, chronicles the story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, a 27-year-old Ghanaian who was born with only one leg. Determined to show his countrymen that the handicapped were capable of more than most were willing to acknowledge, Yeboah contacted an American organization called the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and with their help, set out on an unusual quest - learning to ride a racing bike, and then piloting it across the nation of Ghana. All tickets for the International Film Series are $5 (or free with a Kean ID), and can be purchased by calling (908) 737-SHOW (7469) or visiting www.keanstage.com.

Kean Stage presents professional dance, music and theatre performances in premier venues throughout Kean's campus, including Enlow Hall. Kean Stage's mission is to educate, entertain and challenge audiences by presenting professional programs of high quality that reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of the central and northern New Jersey region. These programs extend and supplement the intellectual life of the classroom, increase opportunities for community and university interaction, and provide affordable access to the arts for New Jersey residents and students of all ages. To purchase tickets or request a season brochure, call the Kean Stage box office at 908-737-SHOW (7469), email ticket@kean.edu, or visit www.keanstage.com.

Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving nearly 15,000 students. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers four doctorate degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master's degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. The University's six undergraduate colleges offer 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. With campuses in Union and Toms River, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable, accessible and world-class education. Visit Kean online at www.kean.edu.

Pictured: Ten-time Grammy nominee Meshell Ndegeocello visits Kean University's Enlow Hall on February 21. Photo courtesy of The Kurland Agency.

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