From Staten Island to Brooklyn: Free Jazz Concert at Historic Church Site

NEW UTRECHT REFORMED CHURCH

AND

FRIENDS OF HISTORIC NEW UTRECHT

 

Contact: (718) 238-1959

 

Staten Island Jazz Band to Give Free Concert in Brooklyn

BROOKLYN - To welcome the first full day of spring, Friends of Historic New Utrecht will present a free, public concert by the Susan B. Wagner High School Jazz Band in the Parish House of the New Utrecht Reformed Church, 18th Ave. and 84th St., in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. The concert will take place on Saturday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m.

 

The Staten Island-based jazz band will be conducted by Mr. Paul Corn, assistant principal for the arts at Wagner, and adjunct professor at the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music. The performance will mark the first appearance by the Wagner group in the Friends of Historic New Utrecht's popular concert series. Mr. Corn has appeared at New Utrecht before, most recently last April as conductor of the Jazz Band Ensemble of the Brooklyn College Conservatory.

 

The Parish House, known for its acoustics, is used for concerts and other programs while the church's historic sanctuary, next door, undergoes a $2 million restoration and repair. The sanctuary building dates from 1828. The New Utrecht church was founded in 1677. The pastor is the Rev. Terry Troia, who also is executive director of Project Hospitality on Staten Island.

 

Throughout the year the Friends historic organization presents cultural and educational activities, many attended by teachers and students from New York City schools.

 

The concert series is supported, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

 

Additional information on the free community programs, including the concert series, is available at (718) 256-7173 and at historicnewutrecht.org and newutrechtchurch.org.

 

 

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                                                    March '09

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