Anthony Lowell
Sunday, April 14, 2002, 5:30 P.M.
at Northern Westchester Center for the Arts
While more used to protecting Lewisboro residents while he is on his regular patrols around the town, on Sunday evening, April 14, Officer Anthony Lowell of the Lewisboro Police Department will be coming to the aid of one of the Town's premier arts organizations in Mt. Kisco, when he headlines the Westchester Oratorio Society's upcoming benefit at the Colleen Dewhurst Theater at Northern Westchester Center for the Arts. The event, which celebrates the Oratorio Society's 5th Season is entitled, "Fascinating Rhythm" -- an evening with George Gershwin and Professor Anthony Lowell and Friends. In addition to his duties as a popular member of the Town's part-time police force, Professor Lowell is a faculty member of Saint John's University where he teaches Music History and Literature. A concert pianist, musicologist, and noted Gershwin scholar, Dr. Lowell holds a Doctorate in Piano and Music Literature from New York University, and a Masters Degree in Music from the Manhattan School of Music. The event begins with an opening reception in NWCA's art gallery at 5:30 PM with the performance beginning at 6:30. Intermission will feature a buffet dinner, all catered by Sue Vales and the Horse & Hound Inn of South Salem. Dr. Lowell will intersperse fascinating stories about George Gershwin and his brother Ira with a performance in which he and his guest performers will showcase the composer's stunning range from piano masterpieces to unforgettable opera and timeless show tunes. The event's silent auction will once again feature a wide range of exciting bargains from vacation homes on Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Key Largo, restaurants, tickets, art works, and an exquisite set of silver tea spoons from Buccellatti to 100 daffodil bulbs planted in your garden. An updated list of items can be found at the group's Web site listed below. While Dr. Lowell will perform on a Yamaha grand piano, George Gershwin himself will entertain during cocktails through the magic of a Yamaha Grandtouch Digital Disklavier piano which will recreate performances transcribed by computer from piano rolls the composer actually made. The piano itself will be an exciting silent auction item courtesy of Yamaha and Frank & Camille's Keyboard Center in Hartsdale. This year New Horizons Computer Learning Center of Westchester is donating a one-year club membership, normally valued at $1,899. The membership provides access to the Center's full range of course offerings from Microsoft Office to advanced desktop publishing, and can be redeemed by either an individual or a business. If taken individually, the courses would cost over $11,000. As a small business owner, NHWC's CEO Christina Domecq, a Westchester native, noted that in the wake of the September 11th tragedies she felt that the time had come to contribute to local arts organizations like WOS which have the ability to "lift the Spirits of Westchester." The Westchester Oratorio Society is a non-profit arts organization founded in 1997 with a mission of bringing exceptional musical programming to the local community (and occasionally beyond) by performing full-scale choral masterworks with professional orchestras and soloists. Under the leadership of its renowned Artistic Director, Harold Rosenbaum, The 80-voice oratorio society comprises amateur singers from throughout northern Westchester, Fairfield and surrounding counties. In addition to performing two local concerts a year, WOS has performed with such premier organizations as the Westchester Symphony Orchestra at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase, The Brooklyn Philharmonic at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Manhattan Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. While the group's concerts receive strong local support, ticket sales cover only 40% of the group's costs. In this year, which saw the sudden demise of the Westchester Symphony, and a drastic reduction in charitable giving to the arts, the benefit and its silent auction have taken on added importance for the group. Tickets for the event are $75. Sponsor level with preferred seating and a listing in the program is $125. For more information or to purchase tickets call (914)763-9389, or visit the group's Web site at http://www.westchesteroratorio.org.
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