Blog Author: Ellie Rafoth, Community Engagement Intern
This Wednesday, August 6 at the Judge Morley Pavilion at 7 p.m., Don Burns Orchestra will take the stage! This group will serenade you with their big band sound making for a delightful summer evening at the Wick Recreation Area!
Before their performance, I had the opportunity to speak with Don Burns to get a little background on Don Burns Orchestra!
ER: What is the history of Don Burns Orchestra?
DB: On March 1, 1967, over 30 years ago, the Don Burns Orchestra was formed to perform, promote, and sustain the “great music of the Big Band” era. Originally starting with only 11 pieces, it wasn’t long before the band had grown to its present size. Within the first year the band was performing at dances throughout the tri-county area. Musically, the band was quite good but something seemed to be missing; so more choreography, more originals music and a female voacalist were added. The band got better and better as time went on and we even started doing several “live” radio broadcasts. In the early nineties, we added a new male and female vocalist, a vocal team, and with their talents, we could really increase our versatility. During 1996, we expanded even more by adding our vocal quartet, the Sunrise Serenaders, enabling us to bring the “complete” musical package to the public. Without the dedication and talent of each member of the band, none of this would have been possilbe. So settle back or put on your dancing shoes and enjoy the “great music and showmanship” that only a “truly” Big Band can provide.
ER: What is the makeup of Don Burns Orchestra?
DB: The Don Burns Orchestra is comprised of nineteen of some of the best, talented, musical people around with a dedication you wouldn’t believe. My people have been with me from three years to forty-six years. Between you and me, I’ve been very blessed with such great people. We have five saxes, four trombones, four trumpets, guitar, bass, piano, drums and a male / female singers. We also have a vocal group, the Sunrise Serenaders that sang with Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey.
ER: What type of music does Don Burns Orchestra perform?
DB: We play original music from the famous big band era. We also perform a lot of Glenn Miller and music through the nineties, Swing, Latin, and Ballads.
ER: Where can we expect to see Don Burns Orchestra after Live! at the Morley?
DB: You can see us Thursday, August 14 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at a free concert in Ramsey Park on Ohio Ave in McDonald, OH. Also we are performing at Cascade Ballroom on Washington Street in New Castle, PA. This is on Friday, September 5 at the three hour Big Band Dance from 8 – 11 p.m. It is $10.00 per person.
ER: What are your feelings about playing in Mill Creek MetroParks’ summer concert series, Live! at the Morley?
DB: You can’t find a nicer place; beautiful performance stage and great park people to work with. We have had the pleasure of performing there almost every year for 46 years and I am very thankful for the opportunity to do so. The Judge Morley Pavilion is the premier place in Youngstown.
Thank you Don! We are so grateful for the Don Burns Orchestra’s dedication to the MetroParks and cannot wait to hear the group’s big band sound this week!
For a complete list of concerts during the MetroParks’ summer concert series, Live! at the Morley, visit millcreekmetroparks.org.
https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.png00Mill Creek MetroParks Staffhttps://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.pngMill Creek MetroParks Staff2014-08-05 10:15:542014-08-05 10:17:09Live! at the Morley with Don Burns Orchestra
Mill Creek MetroParks and the Mahoning Valley Players have rescheduled the August 2 performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which was canceled due to inclement weather, for Friday, August 8 at 6 p.m. at the Judge Morley Pavilion at the Wick Recreation Area (1861 McCollum Rd. Youngstown, OH 44509). This is free performance with lawn seating; bring a chair or blanket.
William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and Hippolyta. These events include the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of six amateur actors, who are controlled and manipulated by the fairies that inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set. The play is one of Shakespeare’s most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world. The performing cast is an assembly of talented Shakespearean actors from the tri-county area.
https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.png00Mill Creek MetroParks Staffhttps://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.pngMill Creek MetroParks Staff2014-08-04 15:53:262014-08-04 15:53:26Mill Creek MetroParks’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream rescheduled for Friday
https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.png00Mill Creek MetroParks Staffhttps://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.pngMill Creek MetroParks Staff2014-08-01 16:00:062014-08-01 16:00:06Lanterman’s Mill is one of park’s treasures
Live! at the Morley with Don Burns Orchestra
/in Blog/by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffBlog Author: Ellie Rafoth, Community Engagement Intern
This Wednesday, August 6 at the Judge Morley Pavilion at 7 p.m., Don Burns Orchestra will take the stage! This group will serenade you with their big band sound making for a delightful summer evening at the Wick Recreation Area!
Before their performance, I had the opportunity to speak with Don Burns to get a little background on Don Burns Orchestra!
ER: What is the history of Don Burns Orchestra?
DB: On March 1, 1967, over 30 years ago, the Don Burns Orchestra was formed to perform, promote, and sustain the “great music of the Big Band” era. Originally starting with only 11 pieces, it wasn’t long before the band had grown to its present size. Within the first year the band was performing at dances throughout the tri-county area. Musically, the band was quite good but something seemed to be missing; so more choreography, more originals music and a female voacalist were added. The band got better and better as time went on and we even started doing several “live” radio broadcasts. In the early nineties, we added a new male and female vocalist, a vocal team, and with their talents, we could really increase our versatility. During 1996, we expanded even more by adding our vocal quartet, the Sunrise Serenaders, enabling us to bring the “complete” musical package to the public. Without the dedication and talent of each member of the band, none of this would have been possilbe. So settle back or put on your dancing shoes and enjoy the “great music and showmanship” that only a “truly” Big Band can provide.
DB: The Don Burns Orchestra is comprised of nineteen of some of the best, talented, musical people around with a dedication you wouldn’t believe. My people have been with me from three years to forty-six years. Between you and me, I’ve been very blessed with such great people. We have five saxes, four trombones, four trumpets, guitar, bass, piano, drums and a male / female singers. We also have a vocal group, the Sunrise Serenaders that sang with Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey.
ER: What type of music does Don Burns Orchestra perform?
DB: We play original music from the famous big band era. We also perform a lot of Glenn Miller and music through the nineties, Swing, Latin, and Ballads.
ER: Where can we expect to see Don Burns Orchestra after Live! at the Morley?
DB: You can see us Thursday, August 14 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at a free concert in Ramsey Park on Ohio Ave in McDonald, OH. Also we are performing at Cascade Ballroom on Washington Street in New Castle, PA. This is on Friday, September 5 at the three hour Big Band Dance from 8 – 11 p.m. It is $10.00 per person.
ER: What are your feelings about playing in Mill Creek MetroParks’ summer concert series, Live! at the Morley?
DB: You can’t find a nicer place; beautiful performance stage and great park people to work with. We have had the pleasure of performing there almost every year for 46 years and I am very thankful for the opportunity to do so. The Judge Morley Pavilion is the premier place in Youngstown.
Thank you Don! We are so grateful for the Don Burns Orchestra’s dedication to the MetroParks and cannot wait to hear the group’s big band sound this week!
For a complete list of concerts during the MetroParks’ summer concert series, Live! at the Morley, visit millcreekmetroparks.org.
Mill Creek MetroParks’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream rescheduled for Friday
/in Press Releases/by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffMill Creek MetroParks and the Mahoning Valley Players have rescheduled the August 2 performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which was canceled due to inclement weather, for Friday, August 8 at 6 p.m. at the Judge Morley Pavilion at the Wick Recreation Area (1861 McCollum Rd. Youngstown, OH 44509). This is free performance with lawn seating; bring a chair or blanket.
William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and Hippolyta. These events include the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of six amateur actors, who are controlled and manipulated by the fairies that inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set. The play is one of Shakespeare’s most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world. The performing cast is an assembly of talented Shakespearean actors from the tri-county area.
Lanterman’s Mill is one of park’s treasures
/in Media Coverage/by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffCourtesy of our friends from WYTV.