[NEohioPAL] Western Reserve Theatre Organ Society on "Applause"

[Geoff Short]

Tune in to "Applause" on WVIZ this Thursday at 7:30pm, Saturday at  
6:30 pm and Sunday at 12:30 pm! for a fascinating look at the Western  
Reserve Theatre Organ Society's (WRTOS) two-year organ restoration  
project and its installation at the Masonic Auditorium with WRTOS  
President, Doug Powers.
And . . . don't forget to get your tickets for the Sunday afternoon  
Musical Extravaganza on July 5th at 2pm at Masonic Auditorium  
featuring Jelani Eddington, Chris Elliott, and the Strongsville  
Community Band - along with two organs & the Steinway grand piano!  If  
you haven't gotten your tickets yet, call toll free
1-866-356-7893.

See you there!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2009


“MUSICAL FIREWORKS” KEYBOARD POPS CONCERT TO CAP NATIONAL THEATER  
ORGAN SOCIETY CONVENTION IN CLEVELAND


Cleveland,Ohio – The Western Reserve Theatre Organ Society (WRTOS)  
will present “Musical Fireworks”, a public pops concert featuring  
world-renowned organists Jelani Eddington and Chris Elliott as well as  
the Strongsville Community Band performing music from Broadway smash- 
hits to Hollywood blockbusters and patriotic standards.  The concert  
will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 5 at Masonic Auditorium, 3615  
Euclid Ave., Cleveland.  Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for  
students.  Tickets can be ordered by calling 866-356-7893.

“Musical Fireworks” is open to the public and will be the final event  
in the 2009 annual convention of the American Theatre Organ Society  
(ATOS), happening for the first time here in Cleveland beginning June  
30.  More information about WRTOS and the “Musical Fireworks” concert  
can be found at www.wrtos.org.

The Western Reserve Theatre Organ Society (WRTOS), founded in 1962, is  
a chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society (www.atos.org). Its  
main purpose is to further the use and understanding of the theatre  
pipe organ and its music. To achieve this, WRTOS restores and  
maintains theatre pipe organs in
public venues and hosts seminars and concerts for the education and  
enjoyment of the general public. “About two and-a-half or three years  
ago, our chapter kind of came to a cross roads” says WRTOS President  
Doug Powers, “and decided that we wanted to take the bull by the horns  
and get one of these [organs] we could call our own”.  That mission  
became reality when a Michigan man donated a pipe organ to the group  
in 2006 and ever since then the group has been  completely restoring  
the organ and creating a permanent installation of the organ in the  
Masonic Auditorium.

The theatre pipe organ is a true American Art Form and is distinctly  
different than church organs and symphonic organs.  They were  
originally installed in movie theatres to duplicate all the sounds of  
an orchestra, but required only one musician. WRTOS currently cares  
for five theatre pipe organs in the northeast Ohio area. All work is  
done on a volunteer basis and the technical aspects of restoration,  
tuning, and maintenance are taught to members as the opportunities  
arise. WRTOS has regularly scheduled meetings at area venues that  
house theatre organs and at members’ homes. For further information on  
WRTOS and to obtain membership information, visit www.wrtos.org.





Jelani Eddington has easily established himself as one of the most  
prominent
and sought-after artists on the theatre organ and piano concert  
circuit. Jelani has performed in most of the major concert venues  
throughout the United States, has toured extensively abroad, and has  
received numerous awards and recognitions,
including his selection as the 2001 Theatre Organist Of The Year, and  
retains the distinction of being the youngest-ever recipient of this  
prestigious honor. In addition to his work as an organist, Jelani has  
also distinguished himself as a concert pianist, appearing recently as  
a guest pianist for performances of Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A- 
Minor, George Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue and
Leroy Anderson’s Piano Concerto in C-Major.

Chris Elliott is one of today’s most acclaimed concert organists. He  
has held church organ positions in several prominent southern  
California churches
including the Crystal Cathedral where he coached with Frederick Swann.  
After moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1988, he studied with  
celebrated organist and composer Richard Purvis. At home performing  
literature of the church or theatre, he is very much in demand as a  
scorer of silent films. Based on his foundational training from  
legendary organist Gaylord Carter, he
has developed his own unique style and has done extensive silent film  
accompaniment, including at the Packard Foundation's Stanford Theatre  
(Palo Alto, California), UCLA, the Cinequest and San Francisco Silent  
Film Festivals, as well as for the Los Angeles Conservancy and the  
Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences.

The Strongsville Community Band, Founded by director Ken Mehalko in  
1990, is
composed of musicians from all walks of life, including students,  
professionals, and retirees joined together because of their love for  
making music. The band programs a variety of musical styles including  
marches, light classics and
“pop” selections.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Geoffrey Short
(440) 263-1156
geoffshort at sbcglobal.net


  
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