Wayne Community Concerts scheduled to begin this week
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on September 24, 2013 1:46 PM
Wayne Community Concerts has brought hundreds of acts to Wayne County residents throughout the years.
This year, the group is celebrating its 75th anniversary with even more musical events.
It began in 1936 when a group of concerned individuals wanted to bring concerts here, said membership chairman Susan Hudson. They got together, organized and had its first concert in 1937. Now it's a nonprofit group under the Arts Council of Wayne County.
Wayne Community Concerts has brought musical talent to Goldsboro all but two years during World War II, Mrs. Hudson said.
The group currently has 14 members who are all volunteers.
In the past, concerts have been held at Goldsboro High School, Dillard School and Wayne Community College. Now they're all held at the Paramount Theatre.
"We feel like we can offer something to Wayne County that isn't out there," Mrs. Hudson said. "And it's a passion of ours."
Tickets are $20 at the door for each concert or you can get a season ticket for $55 for adults or $130 for a family membership that includes children through the 12th grade. The season membership includes reciprocal concerts in Henderson, New Bern and Washington.
Tickets are available at the first concert Sept. 27.
This year's concert season will include:
* The Gothard Sisters will lead off the performances Sept. 27.
Greta, Willow and Solana Gothard began classical violin training and competitive Irish dancing at a young age. They competed in the solo category at the Irish dancing world championships three years in a row.
They also play the guitar and bodhran and sing. They have recorded six CDs, their most recent being "Story Girl," which won the 2011 Celtic radio's Album of the Year.
* The Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute, "Let's Hang On," set for Nov. 1, features four men and two women who sing and dance their way through a variety of songs.
The audience will hear such tunes as "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man," "Sherry," Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," "My Eyes Adored You," "Let's Hang On," "Working My Way Back to You," "Rag Doll" and more.
In addition, the girls will sing "Locomotion," "Lollipop," "Downtown," "These Boots Were Made for Walking," "Since I Don't Have You" and more.
* Jesse Lynch Trio will perform Feb. 7.
Jesse Lynch has played piano for Daniel Rodriguez and The American Tenors. He plays everything from Beethoven and bop to free jazz and contemporary compositions.
Lynch is a student of jazz and classical performance. He will take the audience through the evolution and history of jazz through music and multi-media presentations.
* Tenor John Berry will perform March 21.
He has recorded and marketed six albums on his own Clear Sky Records label. Capitol Records signed him in 1992, and that started a string of hits that included "I Think About It All the Time," "Change My Mind," "Kiss Me to the Car," "What's in It For Me" and his No. 1 Grammy-nominated single "Your Love Amazes Me."
In 1995, Berry received the Horizon Award and a nomination for Top Male Vocalist by the Country Music Association.
For more information on this season's concerts, log onto www.waynecommunityconcerts.com.