Gregory Hallock, executive director of GO ART! holds up the winning ornaments from an ornament-decorating contest for GO ART! members. Tammy Hathaway, the left ornament, won in the adult category and Anna Browne won in the children's category.
GO ART! opened its winter members' art show, Heat Wave, on Thursday night.
Best of Show, "Firebird," by David Burke.
A sculpture, "Forest Floor," by Emily Crawford.
Press release:
Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced the lineup for their late winter and spring indoor tribute shows, with one concert each month featuring music from great artists.
The Paddock Room will play host to ZBTB, based out of Rochester. ZBTB is the nation’s premier Zac Brown Tribute Band. The band captures the true Zac Brown experience. They will play on Saturday, Jan. 19th.
Friday, Feb. 8th is the date for the Soul Brothers – a Blues Brothers Tribute from London, Ontario, Canada. Real-life brothers Chris and Geoff Dahl have been performing as the iconic duo for 25 years. The show features songs from the Blues Brothers, James Brown, Ray Charles, the Righteous Brothers, Sam and Dave and more!
Next up, on Saturday, March 23rd, Batavia Downs welcomes Music of the Stars – A Tribute to Eight Internationally Famous Artists Such as Neil Diamond, Tom Jones, Elton John, Paul McCartney, The Bee Gees, Roy Orbison, Gary Puckett and Elvis. Music of the Stars has achieved a reputation of excellence, owing to its committed and talented team members and mentors.
21 Gun Salute – AC/DC Tribute takes the stage on Saturday, April 6th. 21 GUN SALUTE is undoubtedly one of the premiere AC/DC reviews ever assembled. The band plays true homage to AC/DC’s high voltage rock 'n' roll. Every detail has been painstakingly reproduced, from the Hell’s Bell stage props to Angus Young’s schoolboy outfit and signature live antics and lead singer’s dead-on vocal rendition of both Bon Scott and Brian Johnson.
$10 General Admission tickets went on sale at www.BataviaConcerts.com for each show today, Dec. 18th. Each ticket is redeemable on the gaming floor the day of the concert or the next day for $10 in Free Play. Tickets can also be purchased in person at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel at their “Lucky Treasures” Gift Shop located in the lobby. Seating availability varies for each concert, full details are available on the website.
“Following the success of our fall tribute shows, including several sellouts, we are excited to continue booking these events to entertain our guests,” said Henry Wojtaszek, CEO/president at Batavia Downs Gaming.
“With ticket prices again set at a reasonable $10, getting $10 back in Free Play, we’re trying to make sure everyone can enjoy these great tribute shows and visit our newly renovated facility.”
About Batavia Downs/WROTB
Owned and operated by 15 Western New York counties and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo, Western Region Off-Track Betting Corporation is a public benefit corporation with headquarters in Batavia. WROTB owns and operates 29 branches, as well as Batavia Downs Gaming, a standard bred racetrack and gaming facility. Since its inception, Western Region OTB has generated more than $215 million in operating and surcharge revenues to the taxpayers of those participating municipalities.
Joe Head performed at the Holland Land Office Museum on Friday night, playing a selection of traditional and contemporary Christmas songs.
As he has done each of the past few years, Carmen DelPlato has shared with us Christmas song with lyrics by his mother, Mary DelPlato, and music and performance by Anthony DelPlato.
Genesee Chorale and Brighton Symphony Orchestra will perform a special holiday concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at Grace Baptist Church, Vine Street, Batavia, featuring an original work about Letchworth State Park, “Glory and Majesty.”
This concert is the debut a four-movement piece composed by Daniel Baldwin with lyrics taken from poems written by early visitors to Glen Iris Inn, which were assembled into a book by William Pryor Letchworth.
The evening also includes familiar Christmas songs, such as “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and “Sleigh Bells,” introduces some newer pieces, and concludes with Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.”
Ric Jones, top photo, conducts.
Tickets, presale or at the door are $10. For presale tickets and further information, visit Chorale’s website, GeneseeChorale.com.
Photos from Monday's rehearsal.
The Genesee Symphony Orchestra performs its annual Holiday Concert tomorrow (Sunday) at Byron-Bergen High School featuring young artist winner Raymond Feng.
Showtime is 4 p.m.
The program includes: "Overture to the Marriage of Figaro" (Mozart), "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (Vince Guaraldi), "Concerto No. 3 in C Major" (Prokofiev) (Feng on piano), Canadian Brass Christmas, holiday favorites, "Sleigh Ride" and "Christmas Festival" (Leroy Anderson).
Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, $7 for students, and $35 for a family with children 12 and under.
CORRECTION: In the origianl version of our post, we switched the first and second place winners. Our apologies to Rick.
The Batavia Society of Artists held its opening reception Thursday night at the Richmond Memorial Library of its Winter Art Show.
Rick Ellingham won First Place for his painting, "Adirondack Sunset."
The show runs through Dec. 27.
Karen Crittenden won Second Place with her picture, "Bug."
BHS Drama Club presents a stage adaption of "It's a Wonderful Life" this weekend, featuring Cameron Bontrager as George Bailey, in the classic story of a man who stayed in his small town only to reach a point where felt his life hadn't made a difference, then learns what a difference he did make with the help of his guardian angel, Clarence.
Featured cast:
The adaption was written by Doug Rand from the original screenplay by Francis Goodrich, Albert, Hackett, Frank Capra and Jo Swerling.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors.
Press release:
Batavian Mike Pettinella, longtime local journalist and fan of the legendary rock group Chicago, will be the guest of DJ Richard Beatty on Friday night on the Geezer Radio show.
The “Evening with Chicago” show airs from 8 to 10 p.m. on WGCC radio, 90.7 on the FM dial. It also can be heard on the Internet --https://tunein.com/radio/907FM-s28965/
Pettinella has been a Chicago devotee since the band released its first album, Chicago Transit Authority, in 1969. He attended his first Chicago concert on Aug. 31, 1971 at the old War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo and has seen the group perform more than 65 times since then at various venues in the Eastern United States and Canada.
He also has had the privilege of talking with band members after their show on several occasions and was among the thousands on hand at the group’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April 2016 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Tomorrow night’s show will feature numerous songs spanning the “rock and roll band with horns'"51-year career along with discussion about the group and other songs selected by the Geezer.
Chicago is one of the longest-running and most successful rock groups, and one of the world's best-selling groups of all time, having sold more than 100 million records. To date, Chicago has sold more than 40 million units in the United States, with 23 gold, 18 platinum, and eight multi-platinum albums.
Pavilion High School's "Stars of Tomorrow" present a performance of "My Fair Lady" at 7 o'clock tonight and tomorrow night.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and students.
Directors and Crew:
Cast List:
The theater and music departments of Alexander High School will perform "Guys and Dolls" this weekend.
Showtimes are 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sunday.
Tickets are $9, or $10 at the door. Students, seniors, and veterans can purchase tickets for $7 or $8 at the door. To purchase tickets online, click here.
Directors and crew:
The Cast:
The John Gardner Society gathered at the Pok-A-Dot on Saturday night for the group's annual reading of works by John Gardner.
A Batavia-native, Gardner is an internationally acclaimed novelist and literary critic who died in a motorcycle accident in 1982.
Readers this year were Steve Lewandowski, Byron Hoot, Beth Bucchler (top photo), Richard Beatty, Bill Kauffman, David Lampe, Chris De Pasquale, Helen Maier, Terry Abrams, John Maier and Eric Zwieg.
Byron Hoot
Bill Kauffman
Terry Abrams
Celloist Marza Merophi Wilks will be the featured soloist tomorrow in a concert by the Genesee Symphony Orchestra at Genesee Community College.
The concert starts at 4 p.m. and tickets are available at the door.
Wilks, born in Peru, started playing cello when she was 5 years old and is a master student at the Julliard School. She has previously been a guest soloist for the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes and The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra.
Wilks will perform with the orchestra Samuel Barber's "Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra," a piece in three movements.
Also on the program, "Electric Dream for Acoustic Orchestra," a world premiere performance, which was written by S. Shade Zajac, the GSO's musical director and conductor.
The orchestra will close with "Symphony No. 2 in B minor" by Alexander Borodin.
The Genesee Wind Ensemble performs at the Oakfield-Alabama Auditorium at 4 p.m., Nov. 18. It is located at 7001 Lewiston Road, Oakfield.
Featured works include "Beguine for Band," "Blue Moon," highlights from "Camelot," "Entry for Gladiators," "Procession for Nobles," "Abracadabra," and Symphony No. 3 by Clifton Williams.
Visit geneseevalleywindensemble.org for more information.
Photos are from last night's rehearsal.
Artist Christopher McGee was at GO ART! on Thursday evening for the opening of his show, "The Rhythms of Nature."
Born in Jamestown, the Clarence-based artist said this is the first time he's had a show for this series of paintings.
He began the series in 2008 while observing landscapes while on road trips throughout Western New York.
He said, "My experience playing drums in experimental and improvisational noise bands helped me to visually express some of the more mercurial, unpredictable elements in the universe: earthquakes, meteor showers, supernovas, and black holes."
The show runs through Dec. 8.
GO ART! has two other shows on display as well:
Batavia Players hosts its annual fundraising concert at 7:30 tonight at Harvester 56 Theater.
The cast perfoms a variety of show tunes in their production of "Stories, Songs & Just a Touch of Sin."
Tickets are $20 at the door.
Photos submitted by Pat Burk.
Kaylee Dehlinger (Center) with Jocelyn Coburn and Kathryn Fitzpatrick singing "It Won't Be Long" from "Across The Universe."
Jacqueline Morrison, Tiffany Keicher, Kristin Gelia, and Alix Young singing "I'm A Woman" from "Smokey Joe's Cafe."
The Genesee Community College Forum Players present "Bakkhai" in performances tonight and Sunday at the Stuart Steiner Theatre on the GCC Batavia campus.
The play is an adaptation by Anne Carson of “The Bacchae” by the Greek philosopher Euripedes, written more than 2,400 years ago. It's a story of based on the Greek myth of King Pentheus of Thebes and his mother, Agave, who are punished by Dionysus, the god of wine, madness, fertility, and religious ecstasy.
The play contains adult subject matter.
Tonight's performance is at 7:30 and Sunday's show is at 2 p.m.
The Genesee Symphony Orchestra, with S. Shade Zajac music director/conductor, will perform at Genesee Community College on Sunday, Oct. 28.
The program for "Dare to Dream" is as follows:
Meet the orchestra at 3 p.m., followed by the concert at 4.
Tickets are $15 for adults; $7 for students; $10 for seniors; $35 for a family with parents and children age 12 and under.
Tickets are available at GO ART!, The YNGodess Shop, Vinyl Record Revival, Bank of Castile in Le Roy, and at geneseesymphony.com
This concert is sponsored by WBTA and is also made possible, in part, by the NYS Council on the Arts, with the support of Gov. Cuomo and the NYS Legislature.
The college is located at 1 College Road in the Town of Batavia.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
There are many promotions and schedule changes at Batavia Downs over the next nine days and here is a look at the lineup.
This Saturday (Oct. 6) has an early post of 4:45 p.m. and promises a full night of entertainment.
The featured race on the live racing card is the $15,000 Brian Schroeder Memorial Trot, named for the longtime Western New York trainer/driver whose specialty was diagonal-gaited Standardbreds. Schroeder raced some of the best trotters of his era at Batavia Downs and even competed in the 1993 Hambletonian with Collier St. Joey.
Among the entrants of that race is the French-bred trotter Bioness (Sam Bourbon-Quiradelle D’hilly) who was purchased and imported this spring through the French American Trotting Club program developed by the Standardbred Owners Association of New York. Since coming to the U.S. Bioness has won three out of seven starts, taking a mark of 1:54.3 at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs and has earned $88,970 in the process.
Fans attending the races Saturday can take advantage of the Match Play promotion. Wager a minimum of $25 with a mutuel clerk on any Batavia Downs Gaming live harness race at the same time between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. and receive $25 in gaming free-play.
After the races on Saturday, there will be a live tribute concert to the classic film "American Graffiti" in the Paddock Room. Tickets are $10 and seating is on a first-come basis.
Then on Columbus Day Monday (Oct. 8) enjoy Batavia Downs annual matinee racing card with a special 1:15 p.m. post. Purchase a chicken barbecue (provided by the Center Street Smoke House) for $10.95 from noon to 3 p.m. in the clubhouse and receive $10 in gaming free play.
If chicken isn’t your pleasure, there will also be $1 Sahlen’s hot dog, draft beer and soda at the Homestretch Grill and on the apron from noon until after the last race. All live racing programs will also be only $1.
Then there is a schedule change that needs to be noted. There will be no racing on Wednesday (Oct. 10) and Thursday (Oct. 11). Wednesday was cancelled due to a lack of horses and Thursday was simply moved to Saturday (Oct. 13), which was not originally scheduled. Saturday’s post time will be 4:15 p.m.
Friday (Oct. 12) will remain as scheduled with a 6 p.m. post time.
Saturday (Oct. 13) will feature a special Texas Barbecue in the clubhouse with pulled pork and chicken and all the fixings to go along with it for only $16.95. And everyone buying the barbecue will receive $15 in gaming free play. The clubhouse and buffet both open at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information on live racing at Batavia Downs, please log on to www.bataviadownsgaming.com.
Since 1969, English heavy metal band Judas Priest has sold more than 50 million copies of their albums worldwide.
Last evening at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien, the band opened for Deep Purple and had the crowd revved up and rockin' to classics like "Living after Midnight," "Breaking the Law," and "You’ve Got Another Thing Coming."
Judas Priest is ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time, and singer Rob Halford's voice projected robustly throughout the hour and a half set at Darien Lake.
Deep Purple, named the planet's loudest band in 1972, was formed in 1968 and has had decades of success. The English band opened with "Highway Star" and "Pictures of Home."
A poll on the British radio program Planet Rock ranked them fifth among the "most influential bands ever" in the early 2000s. One of their biggest hits, "Smoke on the Water," from their 1972 Machine Head album, was ranked number 4 in the United Kingdom's Total Guitar magazine list of songs with the "Greatest Guitar Riffs Ever."
Photos below of Deep Purple.
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