Sales begin April 23 for 2008-09 season tickets to Goshen College’s Performing Arts Series

The line-up was publicly announced last night, April 18, at the final concert of the 2007-08 season, which featured the Swingle Singers. Initial reservations were available immediately following the concert, and season tickets formally go on sale 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 23, at the college’s Welcome Center.

The 2008-09 line-up is announced as follows:

Friday, Sept. 19, 2008 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder

Winner of 13 Grammy Awards, Ricky Skaggs wears the mantle as the indisputable leader in the bluegrass scene of today’s roots music revival. He will perform with Kentucky Thunder, his band of lightning-fingered musicians, which has received the IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year award eight of the last 10 years.

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall

Christine Ebersole

Direct from her 2007 Tony Award-winning role on Broadway as “Little Edie” in Grey Gardens, Christine Ebersole promises to delight audiences with energetic and stylish renditions of Broadway and jazz favorites. Her latest CD, Sunday in New York, features Ebersole and her former 42nd Streetco-star Billy Stritch in their highly acclaimed collaborative style.

Friday, Nov. 21, 2008 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall

Brentano String Quartet

Since its formation in 1992, Brentano has performed throughout the world, winning major honors, including the Naumburg Chamber Music and Cleveland Quartet Awards. Described by the Los Angeles Times as “Brilliant, virtuosic, and still mellow…” the Brentano String Quartet is known for its technical brilliance and stylistic elegance.

Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall

Bobby McFerrin

Bobby McFerrin is one of the natural wonders of the music world. His four-octave range and vast array of vocal techniques have helped him become one of the world’s best-known vocal innovators and improvisers. A 10-time Grammy Award winner, McFerrin’s music transcends borders and embraces all cultures, and each show becomes a unique event to the delight and amazement of audiences.

Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall

Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul

Considered a pioneer in Celtic and World music genres, Eileen Ivers has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of Irish fiddling in the world today. The former fiddler for the enormously popular Riverdance has been called a “sensation” by Billboardmagazine and “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin” by The New York Times.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall

Estonia National Symphony Orchestra, with Joyce Yang, piano soloist

On its debut American tour, the 100-member Estonia National Symphony Orchestra will perform in Sauder Concert Hall with 2005 Van Cliburn Silver Medalist Joyce Yang.  Winning the BBC Music Magazine’s Best Orchestral Recording award in 2006, the acclaimed orchestra will be directed by Nikolai Alexeev.

Friday, April 3, 2009 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall

Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile

At age 27, former Nickel Creek band member Chris Thile is one of the most inventive musicians of his generation, and “may well be the most virtuosic American ever to play the mandolin,” according to the Washington Post. The amazing Punch Brothers never fail to wow audiences with their acoustic brand of music that includes elements of country, bluegrass, pop, classical and jazz.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 – 7:30 p.m., Sauder Concert Hall

Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band

Grammy Award winner Poncho Sanchez leads the most popular Latin jazz group in the world today.  The master conguero and salsa singer has performed on world stages for more than three decades, and has gained renown for having “perfected the unions of Afro-Cuban polyrhythms and jazz melodies,” according to the Jazz Series Review.

This year’s regular series season ticket includes six concerts. Four performances are set for each season ticket: Christine Ebersole, Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul, Estonia National Symphony Orchestra with pianist Joyce Yang and the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band. Those buying the basic season ticket package then can choose the additional two performances, one each from these two pairs of contrasting shows: Ricky Skaggs / Bobby McFerrin; Brentano String Quartet / Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile. The six-show ticket prices are $210 for A section seats (main floor, front sides, front of balcony), $180 for B section seats (main floor back, back sides, raised back and back of balcony) and $115 for seats in the C section seats (upper side balconies).

Anyone can also create a seven or eight-show package that includes either or both of the remaining shows at an additional cost.

Season tickets go on sale to the public on Wednesday, April 23 at 9 a.m. A nonrefundable deposit of $20 per seat will hold season tickets and seat preference. This offer is good through May 9. Full payment is due July 15. Seats will be assigned according to the date received. Individual tickets will go on sale Friday, Aug. 15 at the Welcome Center.

For information about ticket availability, prices, reservations or more information, contact the Welcome Center at (574) 535-7566, e-mail welcomecenter@goshen.edu, or visit www.goshen.edu/events/performingarts/.

The Goshen College Performing Arts Series debuted on Sept. 21, 1997, and featured the Fort Wayne Chamber Orchestra. Since then, the college has hosted 80 concerts by some of the world’s greatest performers as part of the program.

Editors: For more information, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.