The Spring Concert, "70 Years of Nina Simone: A Gala Celebration of Jazz" will be presented on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 3PM at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 141 Adams Street, Rochester, NY 14608. Hosted by Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Rickey B. Harvey, Sr., Senior Pastor, this concert features the Brockport Symphony Orchestra directed by Jonathan Allentoff, the Bach Children’s Chorus directed by Karla Krogstad, narrator and trumpet artist Herbert Smith, Herb Smith's Freedom Trio, violin soloist Eloise Fadial, cello soloist Larry Fagen, and clarinet soloist Rachel Roessel.

Honoring the rich musical legacy of jazz singer Nina Simone, the program features songs and instrumental selections from Simone’s beloved albums and performances. Herbert Smith of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra will narrate this musical journey and perform on trumpet with his Freedom Trio. The Brockport Symphony Orchestra and the Bach Children’s Chorus will join forces to perform works by Gershwin and Ellington. Eloise Fadial, the orchestra’s concertmaster, and Rachel Roessel, the orchestra’s principal clarinet, will perform as soloist in Allentoff’s arrangements of “I Loves You Porgy” and “Little Girl Blue.” Larry Fagen, the orchestra’s principal cello, will perform as soloist in “Allegretto con moto” from Cello Concerto No. 1 by Camille Saint-Saëns.

Admission and parking are free.

This project is made possible with support from the Village of Brockport and funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts.

For additional information, please visit www.brockportsymphony.org.