Grammy Winner to Teach Students, Headline Benefit Concert
02/18/2015
Contacts: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
* M E D I A A D V I S O R Y *
Thursday, Feb. 26 through Saturday, Feb. 28
WHAT: Grammy Award-winner Melissa Manchester will headline a benefit concert at UMass Lowell on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in her only New England appearance on her current tour. The performance will cap her three-day stay at the university as an artist-in-residence, during which she will teach classes for UMass Lowell music students and work with elementary through high-school students.
“You Gotta Love the Life – An Evening with Melissa Manchester,” will showcase the legendary singer-songwriter performing songs from her critically acclaimed new CD – her 20th release and first in nine years. The concert will also feature UMass Lowell alumni, students and local schoolchildren performing selections from Manchester’s rich song catalog. Concert proceeds will fund scholarships for the UMass Lowell String Project, a nationally recognized program that provides instruction in stringed instruments such as the violin and viola and music classes to local public-school students.
Manchester will lead master classes for UMass Lowell students in the university’s music performance, music education, music business and sound recording technology programs on Thursday, Feb. 26 and Friday, Feb. 27. For more information about these events, see (http://www.uml.edu/News/press-releases/2015/Melissa-Manchester-011515.aspx) www.uml.edu/News/press-releases/2015/Melissa-Manchester-011515.aspx. Media who wish to interview Manchester about her upcoming visit, during her classes or immediately after the concert should contact UMass Lowell media relations.
Coverage opportunities:
Master classes with UMass Lowell music students
- Strategies for Teaching Songwriting – Thursday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- The Musician’s Life, a look at finding one’s way in the industry – Thursday, Feb. 26, 1 to 3 p.m.
- Vocal Technique – Friday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m. to noon
Concert
- UMass Lowell students, alumni, UMass Lowell String Project and Youth Orchestra members and Lowell public-school choral groups will perform beginning at 7 p.m.
- Manchester will take the stage at 8 p.m. and she will be available to speak with reporters briefly after the show.
The media may capture video, audio and still photographs during the first half of the concert, the first two songs of Manchester’s set and the finale, which will include Manchester and the young performers of the String Project and Lowell public-school choruses. Media who need to file on site to meet deadline should contact UMass Lowell media relations to make arrangements.
WHERE: The concert will be held at Durgin Concert Hall, South Campus, 35 Wilder St., Lowell. Details on the master classes are available from UMass Lowell media relations.