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Bucks County Performing Arts Center News

BRINGING BACK THE VANAVER DANCE COMPANY TO PENNSBURY

Back between the late 1990's and over the next six years, through Pennsbury's Community Partnerships Program, the Bucks County Performing Arts Center  brought the famed Vanaver Dance & Music Company from Upstate New York to teach hundreds of Pennsbury Students dances from around the world.  It was so successful, that after a Strategic Curriculum Review, Dance became part of the Physical Education Department in the District.

For the upcoming school year, we are delighted to welcome back ten dancers from the Vanaver Caravan that will present two assemblies called "World Dance & Music with the Vanaver Caravan Dancers & Musicians" on November 9, 2016 to Eleanor Roosevelt and Manor Elementary Schools in the Pennsbury School District.  

Dances and songs will be a wide variety chosen from Brazil, India, US, England, Canada, China, Spain, Ireland, Bulgaria, Poland, Philippines, W. Africa and South Africa, all with live music on traditional instruments and traditional costumes.

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BCPAC PRESENTS: MATTHEW PARRISH'S TENOR SUMMIT SET TO WOW LOCAL AUDIENCES April 16 at Yardley Community Centre, 7:30 p.m.

In a growing tradition of bringing you jazz excellence and excitement, local jazz acoustic bassist, Matthew Parrish, and Bucks County Performing Arts Center (BCPAC) have managed to get three stellar tenor saxophone players to the Yardley Community Centre stage (64 S. Main St., Yardley, PA  19067) on April 16, 2016, at 7:30pm.  This season finale is not to be missed – and get tickets early as Matthew’s musical showcases are always packed.  

The interplay of tenor sax jazz greats Larry McKenna, Houston Person, and Tim Warfield will make this a once-in-a-lifetime summit.  Round it out with Matthew’s bass skills, McClenty Hunter on drums, and Bruce Barth on piano and everyone from those new to jazz to the seasoned listeners will experience an unforgettable night.  

Houston Person is a master of his craft.  He has deep performance roots in playing with Cedar Walton, Johnny Hammond, Ray Drummond, Lewis Nash, Ron Carter, and a long-time history of appearances with singer Etta Jones.  This barely touches on his body of work, which also includes an extensive recording roster, with a series of albums for Muse, and a 2012 recording, ‘Naturally’, recorded at the famed Van Gelder Recording Studio.

Larry McKenna’s impressive performance roster includes touring with band leader Woody Herman, and appearances with Clark Terry, John Faddis, Buddy DeFranco, Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Mel Torme, and Peter Nero & the Philly Pops.  Larry brings his musical experience, which started at the age of fourteen, to a variety of devoted students, many of whom are now well-known professional musicians.  In addition to a long recording history, Larry is also a prolific musical arranger.  His arrangements have been played on Johnny Carson’s ‘The Tonight Show’, and in the movie ‘Birdy’, starring Nicholas Cage (which Larry also played in and appeared in).  

Tim Warfield, Jr., a native of York, Pennsylvania, got a big career break in 1990 when he was chosen to be a member of trumpeter and CBS/Sony recording artist Marlon Jordan's Quintet.  In 1991 he was selected to record Tough Young Tenors on the Island/Antilles label, listed as one of the top ten recordings of the year by the New York Times. Tim has done numerous television appearances, has a vast recording portfolio, and he has made numerous stage appearances with such names as Donald Byrd, Marcus Miller, James Williams, Christian McBride, The Harper Brothers, Dizzy Gillespie, Isaac Hayes, Shirley Scott, Jimmy Smith, Terell Stafford, Stefon Harris, The Newport Millennium All Stars, "Papa" John Defrancesco, Joey Defrancesco, Danilo Perez, and others.  Tim is an avid jazz educator besides being a busy touring musician.  

Again, the power house or ‘engine room’ behind the ‘summit feature’ brings you Bruce Barth, on piano.  Bruce is a highly acclaimed live performer and recording artist, including several movie soundtracks.  Based in Manhattan, he performs and tours extensively, including a year-long run with Tony Bennett, who said, “I have a great love for excellent musicians, and Bruce Barth is one of my favorites.”

Featured in February, 2016’s ‘Modern Drummer’ magazine, McClenty Hunter, also Manhattan-based, brings a beyond-his-years mastery of jazz drumming that locks in a tight rhythm section.  McClenty currently tours with famed alto sax player, Kenny Garrett.  

As the musical ‘anchor’ of this special band and its organizer, Matthew Parrish, a Bucks County resident, continues to play jazz bass throughout the world.  He has performed and recorded with many greats such as Al Grey, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Clark Terry, Marian McPartland, Etta Jones, Houston Person, Paquito D’Rivera, Bobby Durham, Mickey Roker, Shirley Scott, Winton Marsalis, Regina Carter, Stefon Harris, Jackie Terrason, Orrin Evans, and Kenny Barron.  Matthew also enjoys composing and arranging music.  

The performance is being sponsored by Hill Wallack LLP.

There is a New Ticketing Policy for the 2015-16 Season! Advance Sales are $20 Adults/$15 Seniors/$10 Students.  Tickets can be purchased online, at bcpac.org or by mailing a check to BCPAC, 1140 Edgewood Road, Yardley, Pa 19067 with a stamped self-addressed envelope.  Tickets will be mailed if time allows, otherwise they will be held at the door.

Tickets bought on concert night will be $25 Adults/$18 Seniors/$10 Students.

All tickets are non-refundable.

Parking is ample on and around Main Street and behind the (now empty) Keller Williams Real Estate company next to the Community Centre.  Come early or stay late to enjoy Yardley’s growing number of wonderful eateries.  

If you wish to join BCPAC’s mailing list or find out more about BCPAC you can call (215) 493-3010, or online at their website:  www.bcpac.org.   BCPAC is a registered non-profit organization based in Lower Makefield Township.  Its mission is devoted to the creation of community through the arts.

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All I can say is these are the greatest tenor players in the world!

Houston Person - Tenor Larry McKenna - Tenor Tim Warfield - Tenor Bruce Barth - Piano Matthew Parrish - Bass McClenty Hunter - Drums

Tickets available online - 

Tickets are available online ($20/$15/$10), by phone 215-493-3010, and at the door ($25/$18/$10), with cash, check, or credit card. Doors open at 7pm for 7:30 show.

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The Pennsbury Symphony Orchestra performing at the Bucks County Performing Arts Center.

recap from BCPAC ---- The Pennsbury school district has long had a reputation for its stellar music program, and watching and listening to the young musicians on stage last night, it is easy to see why. Under the able batons of Director Felicia Reilly and Assistant Director Lisa Chippendale, they played with a commitment, precision, and enthusiasm that reflected both their knowledge of, and appreciation for, the music they were performing. The first half featured the string section, with works by baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli, American composer Howard Hanson, and British composer Edward Elgar. After intermission (refreshments served!) the strings were joined by the competent wind, brass, and percussion sections in performing Mozart, Rachmaninoff, and contemporary American composer Ron Nelson. The program afforded plenty of opportunities for individual musicians to shine while at the same time showing off their skill in playing as an ensemble. BCPAC is very pleased to have had the opportunity to bring these outstanding young musicians out of the high school and into the community, where they were given a rousing and well-deserved ovation. Bravo a tutti! - Lynn Fergusson

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Upcoming performance

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BCPAC introduction

In 1985, the organization was recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association and was honored with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council Dorothy Mullen Arts & Humanities Award for a program that exemplified outstanding efforts in the arts among park and recreation departments. Thirty years later, the organization has grown in numerous directions.

Concerts are held in the historic Yardley Community Centre, mostly on Saturday evenings, and the organization continues to bring top notch performers to its stage. In 1996, BCPAC established a vital partnership with the Pennsbury School District’s “Pennsbury Partners Program (PPP)”, For the last 16 years, BCPAC has assisted Pennsbury’s students in fulfilling the National Standards for Arts Education by bringing artists into the classroom.  Bringing professional artists into the school environment enables students to recognize the arts as an authentic means of expression as part of classroom learning.  Since 1996, over $300,000 in grant money has been raised for both the Arts in Education Program at the school district, and the local concert series at the Yardley Community Centre.

Mary Borkovitz

Founder/Executive Director is a 1954 graduate of New York University with a B.S. in Music Education.  She has taught instrumental music in the Westbury Public School District on Long Island and the Greenburgh Public School District in Westchester New York.  In 1970, due to a career move for her husband Mary moved to Yardley Pennsylvania and retired from teaching to raise a family.
During the 70’s Mary volunteered in several capacities and served on the Park and Recreation Board of Lower Makefield Township.  Then in 1978, when a Community Room was built on to the local Township Building, Mary started a concert series by founding the Lower Makefield Society for the Performing Arts.  While developing this program as a volunteer, she worked as an Administrative Assistant in the Psychology Department of Trenton State College, Mobil Oil Corporation and in the Provost’s Office of Princeton University.

Now celebrating its 38th anniversary season, the Lower Makefield Society for the Performing Arts has become the Bucks County Performing Arts Center, to better represent the expansion of its programming into all of Bucks County.