Huntley's Shepherd of the Prairie to host 'An American Musical Celebration' July 3
On Sunday, July 3, Mark Olen and his American Classic Orchestra will provide "An American Musical Celebration" with a free concert at Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church in Huntley. It will begin at 7 p.m. at the church, 10805 Main St.
No tickets are required for this performance and freewill donations are gratefully accepted. Bring the family to experience this entertaining tribute to our country.
Sponsored by the SOTP Artist Series, the American Classic Orchestra will entertain with patriotic, Dixieland, jazz, and swing music.
Olen and the orchestra will be joined by renowned vocalists and Chicago natives Paul Marinaro and Amanda Wolff.
Olen and his trumpet are no strangers to Shepherd of the Prairie. He has performed during numerous prior Artist Series programs, as well as during church services.
The trumpeter's versatility is evidenced by performances with the American Jazz Philharmonic, Chicago Jazz Festival, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, to name just a few. He has performed with a multitude of entertainers, including Tony Bennett, Michael McDonald, Al Jarreau, Aretha Franklin, Maynard Ferguson, and David Foster. As a studio artist, Olen has contributed to recordings of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, VeggieTales, and countless television/radio commercials.
Marinaro has been dubbed as having "one of the most beautiful vocal instruments in the business today" by the Chicago Tribune. Since 2016, he has grown in national visibility and acclaim and has enjoyed highly regarded debuts across the U.S. and Canada. He has appeared at Toronto's Jazz Bistro, and most notably at the world-famous Birdland Jazz Club in New York, where he performed to sold-out crowds.
Wolff was recently a headliner at Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago and has fronted The Flat Cats since 2008. She performs with the holiday themed a cappella group The Merry Janes. She has performed at venues across the Chicago area.
In addition, Wolff has sung at the Chicago Summerdance, WGN morning news, and participated in three USO tours across the Mediterranean.
For information, visit the church website at sotp.org or contact jemcmullen1957@gmail.com.
Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, under the leadership of senior pastor Mark Boster, has served the Huntley community for over 20 years.