Chappaqua Orchestra, Book Festival Partner on Children’s Concert
You don’t have to be a kid to appreciate a special show scheduled for this Saturday afternoon in Chappaqua.
The first Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival Story Concert will be presented at Wallace Auditorium, a joint effort between the festival and The Chappaqua Orchestra.
Conductor Michael Shapiro will lead the 35-piece orchestra through two stories set to music that are designed to introduce children or enhance their appreciation of orchestral music for the hour-long show through children’s stories. The main part of the program is “A Family for Baby Grand,” a story written by Sharon Dennis Wyeth about a piano that ventures out into the world in search of an orchestra, and Ogden Nash’s “The Tale of Custard the Dragon.”
Shapiro said the orchestra’s executive director, David Restivo, has worked with book festival Executive Director Dawn Greenberg and the two came up with the idea for the show.
“It’s been a naturally developing, organically developed relationship to develop the idea of children’s literature and concerts and music,” Shapiro said. “It’s a natural fit.”
A special treat for the audience will be the two guest performers who will be part of the show. Paul Shaffer, a local resident who is best remembered for his work on the “Late Show With David Letterman” and “Saturday Night Live,” will narrate “A Family for Baby Grand.”
The music for “The Tale of Custard the Dragon,” known as Nash’s most famous poem for children, was written by Chappaqua resident and off-Broadway composer Brian Ross and will feature the singing of Roger Seyer.
Shapiro said that working with Shaffer promises to a special treat for him. Seyer has Broadway credits to his resume.
“Paul is an amazing performer, and we look forward to him joining our family that day,” Shapiro said. “I just contacted his agent. He was very responsive.”
Greenberg said she hopes that this weekend’s concert is one of several different types of programs the festival schedules throughout the year to maintain interest and momentum in its objective of attracting children to literature and music.
On March 25, 2017, The Chappaqua Orchestra and the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival will team up again to present “Peter and the Wolf.” That story will be narrated by Elliott Forrest of WQXR radio.
“It’s our hope that we have a wonderful reception from the public and we get the hall filled,” Shapiro said.
The concert is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.tcochildrensconcert2016.brownpapertickets.com. Children under four years old are free. For more information, visit www.chappaquaorchestra.org. Wallace Auditorium is on the grounds of Chappaqua Crossing, located at 480 Bedford Rd. (Route 117).
The concert is sponsored by Houlihan Lawrence, Breezemont Day Camp, Inside Chappaqua Magazine, the Music Conservatory of Westchester and Faust Harrison Pianos.
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