52 THE QUEENS COURIER • SUMMER IN THE BORO • MAY 23, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
summer in the boro
Photo courtesy of NYC Parks
New York Music Month brings 10 free outdoor concerts to Queens
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
@jenna_bagcal
Warm weather is fi nally here and what
better way to soak up the sun than enjoying
a free outdoor concert?
Th e New York City Parks Department is
off ering free concerts around the borough
this spring and summer. From classical
music and jazz to reggae and disco, music
lovers are sure to fi nd a genre they’ll enjoy
for New York Music Month.
“We are so pleased to present New York
Music Month, back for a third year with a
terrifi c slate of diverse programming for
musicians and music lovers of all ages.
Th is initiative is a celebration of all that
our city’s thriving music industry has to
off er, whether you’re an artist trying to
make your mark, a sound engineer interested
in honing your craft or a music fan
looking for free concerts and music-related
activities this summer,” said Anne del
Castillo, the commissioner of the Offi ce
of Media and Entertainment.
While not all of these events are part
of the New York Music Month Concert
Series, concertgoers are welcome to check
out the following 10 free outdoor concerts
happening in Queens this June.
New York Music Month Concert Series:
Family Fun and Music
To kick off New York Music Month, the
Mayor’s Offi ce of Media & Entertainment
and NYC Parks are hosting this family
friendly concert series. On Saturday,
June 1, Th e Dirty Sock Funtime Band
and Alex and the Kaleidoscope will perform
for the kids at MacDonald Park in
Forest Hills. Th e free concert runs from
1 to 3 p.m.
New York Music Month
Concert Series: Reggae
On Sunday, June 9, concertgoers can
enjoy the stylings of several reggae artists
at St. Albans Park. From 3 to 6 p.m.,
renowned artists British Dependency, Mr.
Kool and Paul Brown will come together
for a celebration of reggae music, which
originated in Jamaica in the 1960s.
Jazz at Socrates
In the mood for some jazz? Th en
head over to Long Island City’s Socrates
Sculpture Park on Th ursday, June 13,
from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Th e Danny Mixon
Quartet featuring Antoinette Montague
will be performing at this concert series
that fi rst started in 2016. Harlem-born,
Brooklyn-based pianist Danny Mixon,
who has been described as “one of NYC’s
jazz treasures,” will collaborate with vocalist
Antoinette Montague of Jazz Woman
to the Rescue!
The New York Philharmonic
Concerts in the Parks:
Cunningham Park
Th e New York Philharmonic will delight
listeners with a classical music exhibition
at Fresh Meadow’s Cunningham Park on
Th ursday, June 13, from 8 to 9:30 p.m.
Didi and Oscar Schafer will be presenting
this concert under the stars as they have
been since 1965. Th e hour-and-a-half program,
conducted by Jaap van Zweden, will
include such pieces as Rossini’s “Overture
to La Gazza,” Ladra,Copland’s “Hoe-
Down, from Rodeo,” Rachmaninoff ’s
“Symphony No. 2” and a series of works
by the Very Young Composers of New
York City. Volt Live will provide fi reworks
aft er the performance.
New York Music Month
Concert Series: Latin Music
If Latin music is more your speed,
head over to Gorman Playground in
East Elmhurst. Th e NYMM concert
series continues with a performance by
the Connecticut-based band Orquesta
Afi nke. Th e show is on Saturday, June 15,
from 7 to 9 p.m.
Jerry Costanzo and His
Gotham City Swingers
Th is Father’s Day, take dad out to see
Jerry Costanzo and His Gotham City
Swingers. Councilman Eric Ulrich is
sponsoring this evening of songs by some
of the best crooners and kings of swing.
Herry Costanzo and his band will perform
the hits of legends like Frank Sinatra,
Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King
Cole, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and
Benny Goodman. Th e performance is on
Sunday, June 16, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the
George Seuff ert Bandshell in Woodhaven’s
Forest Park.
Metropolitan Opera Recital
For the ninth season, the Met’s Summer
Recital Series returns to Socrates Sculpture
Park in Long Island City. On Monday,
June 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., the concert
will feature young Met singers who will
perform a series of arias and duets from
several operas.
New York Music Month
Concert Series: The History
of Rock and Roll
On Saturday, June 22, the Mayor’s Offi ce
and NYC Parks presents a performance
by the History of Rock and Roll band as
part of the NYMM Concert Series. Th e
concert takes place at MacNeil Park in
College Point from 1 to 3 p.m.
New York Music Month
Concert Series: Disco Music
Th is celebration of disco music is for those
who can’t get enough of Donna Summer,
the Bee Gees and Gloria Gaynor. Th is concert
will feature Disco Unlimited, the “hottest
disco show and dance band on the East
Coast.” Th e band has shared the stage with
disco greats including Maxine Nightingale,
George McCrae, Th e Trammps and France
Jolie. Th e concert is on Saturday, June 29,
from 7 to 9 p.m. at Hunter’s Point South
Park in Long Island City.
Queens Symphony Orchestra
On Sunday, June 30, from 3 to 5 p.m., the
Queens Symphony Orchestra will be performing
a “symphonic salute to America.”
Th e event is sponsored by Councilman
Robert Holden and will take place at the
George Seuff ert Bandshell in Forest Park.
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