PRESS RELEASE

Rochester Music Hall of Fame to Honor First Class of Inductees April 29^th at the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre During Night of Musical Performances 

Canandaigua National Bank to be Presenting Sponsor for Induction Ceremonies for the Next Five Years

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – February 28, 2012 –The Rochester Music Hall of Fame will honor its first class of inductees at 7 p.m. April 29th at the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre.  All inductees have ties to Rochester, and all living inductees are expected to attend the Induction Ceremony. Tickets will benefit the Rochester Music Hall of Fame, a grass-roots non-profit started three years ago to honor Rochester’s rich musical history.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 8th at 10:00 a.m. and are available through the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra box office by calling 585-454-2100, online at http://www.rpo.org/ or rochestermusic.org, and all area Wegmans. Regular seats are $50-$35. Students and educators can purchase tickets for $20.

“The evening will be filled with music including performances by several of our inductees,” said founder and board president, Karl LaPorta.  “Joining us in the celebration will be local musical groups such as the YellowJackets, Prime Time Funk and a Greater Rochester Area All-Star High School ensemble.”

First Class of Inductees:

• Eastman School graduate and classical flutist, Doriot Anthony Dwyer. She was the first woman to win a principal chair in a major U.S. orchestra.

• Renowned Rochester concert venue of the 1800s, Corinthian Hall. It hosted many noteworthy speakers including Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas.

• The historic 1851 performance in Rochester by soprano Jenny Lind, the “Swedish Nightingale.”  Lind was one of the most highly regarded opera singers of the 19th century.

• Musician, conductor, arranger and record producer Jeff Tyzik. He has held the position of Principal Pops Conductor of the RPO for the past 16 years. As an accomplished composer and arranger, Tyzik has had his compositions recorded by ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Summit Brass.

• Joe English played drums and sang vocals in Paul McCartney’s band, Wings, and in Southern Rock/Jazz group Sea Level. He later formed a major Christian band under his name.

• Three time Tony Award-winning American composer and lyricist, Charles Strouse.  His first Broadway musical was the 1960 hit “Bye, Bye Birdie.” He also wrote the score for “Annie,” winning him his third Tony Award and two Grammy Awards.

• Big Band pioneer and jazz icon, Cab Calloway. The legendary “Hi De Ho Man” was a star and hit recording artist. He was inducted into the Grammy, Big Band and Jazz Halls of Fame.

• Guitarist Gene Cornish, founder of The Rascals, which scored 18 Top 100 Billboard hits such as Good Lovin’, People Gotta Be Free, and It’s a Beautiful Morning.

• Grammy Award winning jazz artist, Chuck Mangione. Mangione is an American flugelhorn player and composer who achieved international success in 1977 with his jazz-pop single, Feels So Good.

About the Rochester Music Hall of Fame

Launched in April 2010, the RMHF is a non-profit organization made up of local musicians, business owners, community leaders and other professionals. Its mission is to recognize those with ties to Rochester whose talents have contributed to the creation of musical excellence.  Each year new members will be honored through ceremony and celebration and their achievements memorialized to promote an appreciation for the greater Rochester area’s rich and diverse musical history and culture.