Join us for Chamber Night Out at PS/21 and Columbia Festival Orchestra

Hudson, NY, - As a members of the newly formed Performing Arts Collective of Columbia County, PS21 and the Columbia Festival Orchestra will host a Chamber Member Night Out on Sunday, July 27, at 2 pm at PS21 (Performance Spaces for the 21st Century) in Chatham, NY. Members of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will be offered discounted tickets at $20 for this performance only.

The Performing Arts Collective of Columbia County is a new initiative of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. It is an association of both professional and community-based performing arts businesse members of the Chamber that have come together to promote and nurture the performing arts as essential to a healthy economy and cultural life in Columbia County.

The Columbia Festival Orchestra is a professional orchestra, founded in 1988 by artistic director and conductor, Gwen Gould. The CFO will be in residence at PS21 July 25-27, 2008. A new educational initiative will be launched by the CFO during its residency called "Take a Seat...in the Orchestra," a mentoring program for serious minded music students. 19 local students will be rehearsing and performing with the CFO a new work, "Overture to a New Theatre" by Chatham graduate, David Grunberg. Other works on the program are Prokofiev's Symphony No. 1. Barber's "Knoxville: Summer of 1915," featuring CFO's Young Artist 2008 Chanel Wood, soprano, and Beethoven's Symphony No 7.

This concert of the CFO and its associated education program "Take a Seat...in the Orchestra" have been made possible through the generous support of the following foundations and corporations: Berkshire Taconic Foundation Fund for Columbia County, Melanie and Howard Brandston Fund, Francis Greenburger Charitable Fund, Ed Herrington, Inc., Hudson River Bank & Trust Foundation, JSL Computer Services, Marilyn and Bob Laurie Fund, Mario's True Value Home Center, Metz Wood Harder Insurance Company, Old Chatham Sheepherding Company. Price Chopper's Golub Foundation, Stewart's Shops, Union Bank of Kinderhook, David G. Whitcomb Foundation, in addition to contributions from many individuals.

Chamber members are invited to come backstage immediately following the performance to meet the players, CFO's Young Artist Chanel Wood, guest composer David Grunberg, and to congratulate the student participants.

PS21 is located at 2980 Rte 66, one mile north of the center of Chatham on Rte 66, just past Crellin Park. Be sure to mention you're a Chamber member when purchasing tickets. For tickets and information call (518) 392-6121 or visit: www.ps21chatham.org.

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, with its 850 members, is the leading voice of business in Columbia County , providing advocacy, promotional and benefit solutions for its members. Those seeking more information concerning the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and membership can contact the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 or visit the website at www.columbiachamber-ny.com.