Community Performance Series Brings Famed Ukulele Group to Potsdam for Must-See Performance

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Celebrates 'Thirty Plucking Years' with CPS Guest Artist Series Concert

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The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain will perform on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music.

POTSDAM, NY (09/21/2015)(readMedia)-- Community Performance Series will welcome an eclectic group of ukulele musicians for an unforgettable Guest Artist Series concert on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m., in the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music.

Now marking "30 plucking years" together, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain is a group of all-singing, all-strumming group of ukulele players who believe that all genres of music are available for reinterpretation (as long as they are played on the ukulele). Going from Tchaikovsky to Nirvana, via Otis Redding to Spaghetti Western soundtracks, the orchestra will take the audience on a world tour.

A concert by the Ukulele Orchestra is a funny, virtuosic, twanging, foot-stomping whirlwind of rock 'n roll and melodious light entertainment, featuring only the "bonsai guitar" and a menagerie of voices, in a collision of post-punk performance and toe-tapping oldies.

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain was formed in 1985 as a bit of fun, but the first gig was an instant sell-out, and they've been performing ever since. The orchestra has performed in venues worldwide, including New York's Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, London's Royal Albert Hall and the Glastonbury Festival. Over the last 30 years, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain has spawned hundreds of like-minded groups, and you can now find these groups in nearly every major city. The orchestra is often credited with the current ukulele revival which is sweeping the globe.

The Ukulele Orchestra's music has been used in films, plays and commercials, while clips of the orchestra's live concerts and television appearances have been watched millions of times online. Collaborators have included Madness, David Arnold, The British Film Institute, The Ministry of Sound, Yusuf Islam (a.k.a. Cat Stevens) and The Kaiser Chiefs.

The current ensemble has been playing together for more than 20 years, and has become something of a national institution. The orchestra has had varying line-ups over the past two decades, but since 2005 has performed as an octet, with seven ukulele players and one bassist. The members wear traditional orchestra dress for performances, with the men in black tie and the women in smart evening wear.

The Ukulele Orchestra has released many albums, including studio recordings "The Ukulele Variations," "The Secret of Life" and "Christmas with the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain." They have also released live albums, as well as compilations and DVDs.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased in person through the CPS Box Office, located in the lobby of SUNY Potsdam's new Performing Arts Center, by phone at (315) 267-2277, or by visiting www.cpspotsdam.org. Single tickets can also be purchased in person at Brick & Mortar Music in downtown Potsdam.

A 25 percent discount is available when purchasing tickets to three or more CPS Guest Artist Series events. This discount is not available online. Ticket prices differ depending on the event and location. Student tickets are as low as $15, and adult tickets range from $20 to $50. Discounts are also available for senior citizens and SUNY Potsdam faculty/staff.

For more information on the 2015-16 season and artists, visit www.cpspotsdam.org, or check out CPS's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cpspotsdam.

CPS is a college-community partnership presenting world-class performing artists and arts education opportunities in Northern New York. This rich mixture of programming links communities, classrooms and audiences of all ages and preserves access to the performing arts for future generations. For more information, visit www.cpspotsdam.org.

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of only three arts campuses in the entire SUNY system. SUNY Potsdam's arts curriculum offers the full palette: music, theatre, dance, fine arts and creative writing. No matter the discipline, people from all backgrounds can find their creative compass at Potsdam, with myriad arts immersion experiences available for both campus and community.

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