O'Connell & Company Productions invites you to Swing into the Holidays with ...HOME FOR CHRISTMAS featuring JOHN STEVENS
and the Colored Musicians Club's George Scott Big Band George Scott, Director with Muhammad School of Music Chamber Players under the direction of Maestro The Henri L. Muhammad & Mary Kate O'Connell
November 27, 28, 29, 2009 Friday & Saturday at 7:30pm - Sunday at 2:30pm tickets: $20 general • $15 senior/student • $12.50 ECC Community O’CONNELL & COMPANY in residence at ERIE COMMUNITY COLLEGE-North Campus 6205 Main St. (on Youngs between Main & Wehrle), Williamsville, NY 14221 (716) 848-0800
www.OConnellandCompany.com

SHOW INFORMATION:
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is onstage at Gleasner Hall, Erie Community College - North Campus, 6205 Main St. (theatre entrance is on Youngs between Main & Wehrle), Williamsville, NY 14221, where the award-winning O'Connell & Company Productions is the professional theatre company in residence. John Stevens latest CD, “Home For Christmas” will be available at all performances.

This limited engagement runs November 27, 28 & 29, 2009 and performances are on Friday & Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm. Ticket prices are $20 general - $15 senior/student - $12.50 ECC Community. Discounts are available to groups. FREE parking.

Contact Information:
Mary Kate O'Connell, Artistic/Executive Director
O'Connell & Company Productions - ERIE COMMUNITY COLLEGE-North Campus 6205 Main St., Williamsville, NY 14221.
Box Office: (716) 848-0800/Office: (716) 270-5947website:
www.OConnellandCompany.com

TALENT BACKGROUND:
JOHN STEVENS 16 year-old American Idol Finalist, isn't 16 anymore. With an album and a Berklee College of Music degree under his belt, he has returned home to Buffalo, NY with the release of “Home For Christmas”. This holiday album was produced, arranged, and recorded
here in Buffalo using the musicians of the Queen City. “Home For Christmas” features two original songs along with 10 Christmas classics such as Santa Claus is Coming To Town and The Christmas Song. The album will be sold at local WNY retailers and a portion of each album sold will be donated to the American Red Cross: Buffalo Chapter.

THE BUFFALO COLORED MUSICIANS CLUB is as endearing a place as it is historically significant. Upon entering the club you are met by an overwhelming presence that resonates from the club's rich history. The club has always fostered an environment where people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds could come together over a mutual love of the American phenomenon called jazz. Besides the bonds of friendship made between members of the club, involvement in the jazz movement has provided strength and hope to Buffalo's African American community since its formation. The Colored Musicians Club embodies these positive forces and provides a place that allows dreams to take shape into reality. In 1979, the Club was granted historic landmark status. In 1999, the Club was designated a historical preservation site. Today, the Colored Musicians Club is the only remaining African American club in the entire United States and, as such, it actively encourages historical research
and preservation of the history of jazz in Buffalo. The existence of the club provided Buffalo with an attractive, static location where many of the jazz greats including, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Art Blakey, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Mary Lou Williams, Charlie Parker and Ella Fitzgerald could stop in and “show their chops.” This enabled interaction of Buffalo residents with prominent and prestigious African American musicians which, in turn, provided hope for many that the goals of economic betterment and social acceptance weren't out of reach.

MUHAMMAD SCHOOL OF MUSIC (MSOM), now in its eleventh season, has worked to provide a distinct curriculum of professional classical music training for black and minority youth and adults throughout Western New York. The school serves students from Buffalo,
Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, Toronto, Ontario (Canada), and students from all over the country. Additionally, MSOM provides violin classes at numerous schools throughout the City of Buffalo. The MSOM Chamber Players and Founder and Maestro Henri L. Muhammad
have performed nationwide, and have appeared in numerous television, radio, newspaper, and magazine features, as well as, CD and Video recording projects. Under the direction of Maestro
Muhammad, the MSOM Chamber Players have received numerous awards and recognition, and have entertained the company of artists such as Beverly Johnson, Wyclef Jean, Jadakiss, Minister
Louis Farrakhan, Herbie Hancock, Stephanie Mills, Bill Cosby, and others. The MSOM Chamber Players are at home performing in vast concert settings from Symphony Concert Halls
and Churches, to outdoor festivals and Hip Hop Concerts.
Contact Information:

Mary Kate O'Connell, Artistic/Executive Director
O'Connell & Company Productions - ERIE COMMUNITY COLLEGE-North Campus 6205 Main St., Williamsville, NY 14221.
Box Office: (716) 848-0800/Office: (716) 270-5947website:
www.OConnellandCompany.com