Patti Austin Joins the Baltimore Symphony for Ella Fitzgerald Tribute

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Program features music from Austin’s album, For Ella

Baltimore, Md. (February 12, 2009) – Singer Patti Austin (pictured) will join conductor Chelsea Tipton II and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in a tribute to jazz icon Ella Fitzgerald on Thursday, March 12at 8:00 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore and Friday through Sunday, March 13-15 at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The program will feature music from Fitzgerald’s successful music career that spanned almost sixty years, as well as songs from Austin’s Grammy-nominated album, For Ella, including the tribute piece “Hearing Ella Sing.” See below for complete program information.

A professional singer since the age of four, Patti Austin had made a name for herself as a stunning interpreter of song. Dedicated to bringing the sound of bebop and jazz to today’s generation, she regularly performs songs made famous by Ella Fitzgerald and is widely considered one of the most impressive singers of the Great American Songbook. Reviews of her album For Ella confirm that Ms. Austin has succeeded in putting her own stamp on true jazz classics.

Chelsea Tipton II, conductor
In his sixth season as resident conductor of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Chelsea Tipton II has won over audiences and critics alike with his vibrant musicality, accessibility, versatility and extraordinary commitment to education outreach. He has appeared with the Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Houston, Atlanta, New World, New Jersey, San Antonio and Nashville symphony orchestras as well as the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

His 2008-2009 season includes guest conducting engagements with the Cleveland Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta and the Tulare County Symphony in addition to his regular Toledo Symphony season in the Classics, Pops and Family Concert series. A recent highlight was a last minute replacement for Robert Spano to conduct an all-Gershwin season finale with the Brooklyn Philharmonic.

Prior to his appointment with the Toledo Symphony, Mr. Tipton was associate conductor with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra for four seasons and music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra for three seasons. He was an assistant professor at Central Michigan University (CMU) where he directed the CMU Symphony. He was also a visiting professor in clarinet and chamber music at Western Michigan University. He has served on the faculty of the Apple Hill Chamber Music Festival in New Hampshire, and served four seasons as assistant conductor with the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina.

Patti Austin, vocalist
Patti Austin crosses all musical genres, has made 16 solo albums and has performed her award-nominated hit songs at the Grammys and the Oscars. As a performer, songwriter and vocalist, she has had a star-studded career that began at the age of four. Ms. Austin is constantly on tour performing with her band of various configurations to suit the desires of her very diverse fan base. Lately, she has become a favorite of symphonies around the world. These performances usually generate several standing ovations, especially when she recreates her work with the WDR Big Band from Cologne, Germany. She released For Ella in 2002, her critically acclaimed and Grammy-nominated tribute to the legendary Ella Fitzgerald in Cologne.

Ms. Austin released Avant-Gershwin, a new and adventurous big band rendering of Gershwin songs in 2007 with the WDR Big Band. In 1988, Ms. Austin released the magnificent David Pack-produced The Real Me. Featuring a powerful collection of pop and jazz standards including "Cry Me a River, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" and “Mood Indigo," The Real Me remains one of the most popular items in her catalog.

COMPLETE PROGRAM INFORMATION:
BSO Superpops: Patti Austin: An Ella Fitzgerald Tribute
Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. – The Music Center at Strathmore
Friday, March 13, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. – Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. – Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. – Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

Tickets for these performances range from $25 to $80. Tickets are available through the BSO Ticket Office, 877.BSO.1444, 410.783.8000 or BSOmusic.org.

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