Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Young@Heart Chorus, Northamptones, UMass Dynamics to Harmonize for Health at the Calvin Theatre Sunday, October 3oth to benefit Cooley Dickinson Cancer Center, Nurse Development Programs

 NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – On Sunday, Oct. 30, at 3 p.m., three local musical groups take to the Calvin Theatre stage to celebrate Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s 125th anniversary and to support the future health of the community.

“We are in the fortunate position to give back to the community that has supported the Young@Heart Chorus for the past 30 years,” said Chorus Director Bob Cilman. “We perform yearly benefit concerts for local non-profit organizations, and as part of their 125th anniversary year, we’ve selected Cooley Dickinson. CDH is our local hospital that has a special place in the hearts of our chorus members.”

When the Chorus was just a fledgling group and performing their first concerts in Europe, the hospital donated new wheelchairs to the Chorus. Cilman said the connection to the hospital is a relationship that really matters to the Chorus. “We are committed to helping Cooley Dickinson. We hope to raise significant funds through this event,” Cilman added.

The Young@Heart Chorus will sing songs from the stage/theater show, End of the Road by No Theater, a show that they have performed internationally at venues in Manchester, England; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Gent, Belgium and Poznan, Poland. They will also perform from their concert show line-up.

The world-renowned Young@Heart Chorus, whose members range in age from 73 to 89, will headline the benefit concert. Special guests include a capella groups, The Northamptones and The UMass Dynamics.

“We are honored and excited to have these inspiring and talented groups perform in support of Cooley Dickinson’s Building Our Future Campaign,” Diane Dukette, vice president of Development for Cooley Dickinson, said. 

Funds raised will benefit two current hospital initiatives, a new comprehensive cancer center and educational programs for nurses. Both projects, Dukette said, will have a direct impact on the care and services provided to local patients and families far into the future.

To purchase tickets ($25, $35 or $100, plus service charges), call or stop by Northampton Box Office 76 Main Street, (413) 586-8686 or buy online at IHEG.com. The $100 ‘VIP’ tickets include first-row seating and admission to an after-concert reception with the Young@Heart Chorus hosted and sponsored by the Hotel Northampton.

About the Young@Heart Chorus

The Young@Heart Chorus, whose members range in age from 73 to 89, is well-known and loved locally by audiences of all ages.  The Chorus is also world-renowned, selling out large theaters across the U.S. and the world.  An inspirational documentary film, Young@Heart, was released worldwide several years ago and includes scenes shot at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. 

About The Northamptones

The Northamptones, Northampton High School's own a cappella group, have had the pleasure of performing at the Massachusetts State House, in The Silver Chord Bowl, at The Iron Horse Music Hall and on countless other stages throughout the East Coast.  After hours of rehearsals filled with music and laughter, their contagious energy is sure to light up the stage and warm concert-goers’ hearts.

About The Dynamics
The Dynamics are a group of sixteen, talented, hardworking, and motivated students committed to creating fun and exciting a cappella music at The University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  Established five years ago, the group has recorded three successful albums, performed at weddings and festivals, traveled to sing alongside some of the best collegiate groups around, earning quite a name in the a cappella world.

About Cooley Dickinson Hospital  

Cooley Dickinson, a full-service community hospital, is ranked in the top 5 percent of all U.S. hospitals in patient safety by HealthGrades®, the country's leading independent health care ratings organization. It is the only hospital in the Springfield area to achieve the HealthGrades Patient Safety Excellence Award™ for three consecutive years. Cooley Dickinson’s staff of 1,650 professionals and nearly 400 affiliated physicians comprise a network of emergency, surgical, clinical, rehabilitative, hospice and home care expertise that treats 40,000 emergency patients per year, delivers 800 babies, and collaborates with Massachusetts General Hospital to deliver comprehensive cancer care. Cooley Dickinson's vision is to be the nation's premier not-for-profit community hospital, able to provide local access to the most advanced clinical treatments in a caring and neighborly setting. Learn more at www.cooley-dickinson.org.


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