Jack Everly to Conduct 2010 National Memorial Day Concert 5/30

Today it was announced that top pops conductor Jack Everly will conduct the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) for the 2010 National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth, two of PBS' highest-rated programs which air live in HD from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol. The announcement was made by Jerry Colbert, executive producer for Capital Concerts, a non-profit Washington, D.C.-based production company that has been producing both multi-award winning shows for the past thirty years.

Everly takes the baton from the legendary pops conductor Erich Kunzel, who directed the NSO in these concerts for the past twenty years until his tragic passing in September 2009. Throughout his illustrious career, Kunzel received many awards including the 2006 National Medal of Arts award, seven Grammys, and an induction into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.

Maestro Jack Everly brings decades of musical experience to this new role. In addition to having guest conducted the NSO frequently during the past ten years, he is the principal pops conductor with the Indianapolis and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras as well as the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Arts Centre (Ottawa). He also served as Music Director for the American Ballet Theatre for 14 years where he was originally appointed by artistic director Mikhail Baryshnikov. Before taking that prestigious position, Everly conducted on Broadway for Hello Dolly, A Chorus Line, Showboat, They're Playing Our Song and many more. In 1996, he also conducted the musical score for Disney's animated movie "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." Everly has guest conducted around the country including the San Francisco Symphony, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra and the Cincinnati, Detroit, Seattle and Dallas Symphony Orchestras as well as international conducting roles in Italy, England and Canada. He also has a PBS In Performance at the White House special to his name. People Magazine recognized Everly's talent early on, naming him the "youngest conductor on the Great White Way" when he was only 26 years old.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jack Everly to the concerts this year. It was a real tragedy to lose our long-time conductor and friend Erich Kunzel last year and we will miss his spirit and energy. Erich Kunzel paid Jack the highest compliment he could by recommending him so strongly," said Jerry Colbert, executive producer for Capital Concerts. "With his experience conducting numerous orchestras around the world, on Broadway, and in ballet, Jack Everly will help bring new ideas to these national celebrations and we look forward to working with him," he added

"Having conducted the NSO in numerous programs over the past 10 years, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with this wonderful orchestra for this year's National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth," said Everly. "I am honored and humbled to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Erich Kunzel and look forward to contributing to these wonderful concerts that have, truly, become American traditions."

The National Memorial Day Concert honors the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, their families at home and all those who have given their lives for our country. The event airs Sunday, May 30 from 8-9:30 p.m. ET on PBS. A Capitol Fourth, America's biggest and brightest birthday party, celebrates 30 years on air Sunday, July 4 from 8-9:30 PM ET on PBS. Both programs are broadcast before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network.  

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