Seven Eastman School of Music musicians will “back up” Gov. David Paterson for the relaunching of the “I Love NY” campaign on Tuesday, May 6.
Quartet Aura, a string quartet, and the Miles Brown Trio, a jazz trio, will travel to New York City for a media event promoting the variety of sites, attractions, and activities offered throughout the state. The groups are scheduled to perform before and during the event, which features presentations by Governor Paterson and representatives from Empire State Development Corp. on the new themes and images for the state’s tourism campaign. In addition, foods and wines from around New York State will be served.
Arrangers of the event approached the Eastman School in April requesting students to play at the gala. “We’re honored that the Eastman School of Music has been invited to participate in the re-launch of the ‘I Love NY’ campaign,” said Eastman Dean Douglas Lowry. “It speaks to Eastman’s formidable reputation as one of the nation’s premier schools. As proud New Yorkers, we all celebrate this moment.”
Music from the Miles Brown Trio, composed of graduate students Miles Brown, bass, Sam Farley, piano, and Eastman alumnus Brady Miller, drums, will greet media guests as they enter the venue, including the state song, “I Love New York,” as well as a few standards. Quartet Aura, composed of violinists Doris Lee and Zach Piper, Jared Davis, viola, and Elise Hughey, cello, all juniors, will perform a range of background music, from Mozart and Beethoven to Joplin and Gershwin, during the function.
The whirlwind experience has the students catching an early morning flight to New York City to make the event on time at noon in Rockefeller Center. They will be returning later the same day.
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