Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Performs Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits with Broadway’s Movin’ Out Star Michael Cavanaugh

Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly leads the BSO in first SuperPops program of 2008-2009 season

Baltimore, Md. (August 19, 2008) — Tony-nominated vocalist and pianist Michael Cavanaugh will join Jack Everly and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in The Music of Billy Joel, October 2 at the Music Center at Strathmore and October 3-5 at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Cavanaugh most recently starred as the principal pianist and vocalist in Movin’ Out, the hit Broadway musical depicting American youth in the 1960s and featuring the music of Billy Joel. Staying true to Joel’s rock ‘n’ roll and pop anthems, a live rock band will join Cavanaugh for his performances with the BSO. See below for complete program information.

Receiving rave reviews across the country, Cavanaugh was described by The New York Times as a “remarkably accomplished pianist and Billy Joel-soundalike.” The Piano Man himself discovered Cavanaugh at the piano bar inside the New York, New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and encouraged him to audition for Movin’ Out. After more than 1200 performances on Broadway, Cavanaugh is now on a national tour performing Billy Joel’s greatest hits. His performances with the BSO will feature chart toppers such as “Uptown Girl,” “Piano Man” and “The River of Dreams.”  

Michael Cavanaugh, vocalist and piano
Michael Cavanaugh was handpicked by Billy Joel to star in his Broadway musical Movin’ Out. For three years and nearly 1200 performances, Mr. Cavanaugh played the role of the Piano Man and received numerous accolades for his performance, including Grammy and Tony award nominations.

Mr. Cavanaugh has now evolved in to one of the hottest artists in the corporate world, performing for companies such as Microsoft and GE, sporting events including the U.S. Open, the Indy 500, NBA and PGA tournaments and private parties throughout the United States and Europe.

Jack Everly, Principal Pops Conductor
Known for his innovative programming ideas and his knowledge of and love for the pops genre, Jack Everly is principal pops conductor of the Baltimore, Indianapolis, and National Arts Centre (Ottawa) symphony orchestras. He is also the music director of the Indianapolis Symphony’s A Yuletide Celebration and the BSO’s Holiday Spectacular.

Music director of American Ballet Theater for 14 years, Mr. Everly conducted thousands of performances and dozens of world premieres for that company. He teamed with Marvin Hamlisch in shows that Mr. Hamlisch composed. Mr. Everly has appeared on “In Performance at the White House” and has been music director on numerous Broadway cast recordings, including Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He conducted the PBS “Dance in America” at New York’s City Center as well as the PBS telecast from the Metropolitan Opera House of the Prokofiev-MacMillan Romeo and Juliet.

A frequent guest conductor on the world’s concert, opera and ballet stages, Mr. Everly’s appearances include the National Symphony of London, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, the Teatro Colón, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Everly is also the music advisor for the Symphony Pops Consortium (SPC), an alliance formed by the Indianapolis, Detroit, St. Louis, Milwaukee, National and Seattle symphony orchestras. The SPC is producer of programs that include A Celtic Celebration—The Music of the Emerald Isle, Those Glorious Musicians—A Tribute to MGM and Pops Goes British featuring the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

COMPLETE PROGRAM INFORMATION
BSO SuperPops: The Music of Billy Joel
Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.—The Music Center at Strathmore
Friday, October 3, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.—Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall (JMSH)
Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. —JMSH
Sunday, October 5, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.—JMSH

Jack Everly, conductor
Michael Cavanaugh, vocalist and piano †

† Denotes a BSO artist debut

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