Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra Honors National Music Day In A Unique Way.

Maestra Jeri Lynne Johnson

 

 

Maestra Jeri Lynne Johnson, founder and Music Director of Philadelphia's own Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra will honor National Music Day in a rather unique way. She invites talented musicians and singers from "the City of Brotherly Love", along with their friends and neighbors, to rehearse then play alongside the orchestra as they perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, the "Ode to Joy" at the historic Dell Music Center in East Fairmount Park, Ridge Avenue & Huntingdon Ave., Philadelphia PA, on June 21, 2014 at 7:00 PM 

 

Johnson writes in her email, "Beethoven's last symphony was his wish for people of all nations to come together in a spirit of universal brotherhood. For this exciting concert, Black Pearl is welcoming talented musicians and singers from the "City of Brotherly Love"- your friends and neighbors!- to rehearse and then perform alongside the orchestra".

A flier for the concert that will serve as a ticket to the event, was sent to all in her mailing list. She asked everyone to feel free to pass it along to our friends and colleagues.  If you would like a copy please email us at backlinemag@gmail.com, with "Ode to Joy" in the subject line, and we will get it out to you promptly. 

 

Although the concert is FREE, seating is reserved. Print out the flier as your ticket and we will to see you there.

 

For information about the rehearsal, visit click here Black Pearl

About Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra:

Based in Philadelphia, the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra (BPCO) was formed in 2007 as a model for the 21st-century American orchestra. Founded by award-winning Music Director, Jeri Lynne Johnson, the BPCO’s mission is to take the audience beyond spectatorship to participation in the musical experience by combining artistic excellence with cultural diversity and innovative community engagement. Described by the Philadelphia Inquirer as “first-class on every level,” BPCO musicians have been trained at leading music conservatories around the globe including the Curtis Institute, the Juilliard School, and the Peabody Institute among others.

The BPCO's concert programming connects countries, cultures and communities in exciting ways As an acknowledgement of its groundbreaking work, the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra is the only organization ever to win three Knight Foundation Arts Challenge grants. ~ BPCO website

 

 

Preliminary National TV Ratings for 6/4/2014 from Neilsen

Show (Network)		Rating(18-49) / Share	Viewers(Millions)
1	America's Got Talent (NBC)	2.8/10	11.2
2	The Night Shift (NBC)	1.5/5	7.2
3	Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC)	1.4/5	4.0
4	Extreme Weight Loss (ABC)	1.1/4	3.9
4	Lo Que LA Vida Me Robo (Uni)	1.1/4	3.0
6	NCIS: Los Angeles-r (CBS)	1.0/3	7.6
6	NCIS-r (CBS)	1.0/4	8.6
8	Que Pobres Tan Ricos (Uni)	0.9/3	2.2
9	Person Of Interest-r (CBS)	0.8/3	5.7
9	De Que Te Quiero Te Quiero (Uni)	0.8/3	2.3

See the Blockbuster Movies the Corbett Administration Scared Away From Filming in Philadelphia.

By BACKLINE MAGAZINE STAFF

 

What does Oscar nominated movies like American Hustle, World War Z, and The Bourne Legacy have in common? They could have been filmed (at least partially)  in Philadelphia. However, due the PA Film Tax Credit program, currently capped at $60M, the studios took their projects elsewhere to more "tax-friendly" climates 

Case in point, World War Z, a film with a $190M budget, and a $540M worldwide box office gross ($202M domestic), was set in Philly. However, thanks to the Commonwealth’s paltry tax credit, the project found its way to Glasgow, Scotland. Consequently, a significant amount of revenue and jobs were lost overseas for a film that opened with a local setting.     

 

Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office (GPFO) has been the lead advocate in this struggle with Harrisburg to remove the cap. She says, “$60M is simply not enough to attract the blockbuster production projects that create thousands of jobs for our local crew and businesses. It's not even enough to sustain the number of locally produced projects by a mature resident production community. Furthermore, Pennsylvania is the only state with two major production hubs. Without an uncapped program like our competition, we will continue to lose thousands of jobs and billions in revenue”!
 

Throughout the month of June, GPFO and area supporters will educate the public and garner support through a special summer screening series dubbed ‘Sips with a Twist’. The first screening is American Hustle, at 5 p.m. today. This is the first in a series of titles that represents a lost project due to the underfunded PA Film Tax Credit program.  The screenings are located at the Media Wall in the Courtyard at Commerce Square, 2001-2005 Market Street

Screening Schedule
June 4 - American Hustle
June 11- World War Z
June 18- The Bourne Legacy
June 25- TBA

GPFO staff and volunteers will be on hand to distribute postcards with instructions to post, tweet and instagram @GovCorbett, along with their State Representatives & Senators to: 1). Take a SELFIE in front of your favorite Philly Film Location. 2) Record and upload a short video to GPFO's Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram accounts.

Supporters are asked to urge their state legislators to enact a sustainable Film Tax Credit, save our #PAProductionJobs and #UnCapPA..  Live "Tweeters" will be entered into a raffle for donated prizes from GPFO partners, including: The Capital Grille, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Marriott, Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con, Starr Restaurants, VideoSmith, MinuteMan Press, Philadelphia Soundstages & PFS @ The Roxy.

Editor's note: BACKLINE MAGAZINE supports GPFO's efforts to lift the cap. We strongly urge all who are interested, to attend and help get the word out. 

 

 

 

 

 

Gamble & Huff to Receive Award at Songwriters Hall of Fame Presentation

 

Kenny Gamble (standing) & Leon Huff: Recipients of this years Johnny Mercer Award
Photo:American songwriter .com

Next week (June 12th), Philadelphia's own music legends, Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff, will receive the Johnny Mercer Award at the Songwriter's Hall of Fame 45th Annual Induction Ceremony and Awards Presentation.  Johnny Mercer (1909-1976) is one of the co-founders of the Songwriters' Hall of Fame; and the award is for writers/artists who are already inducted, and have a number of outstanding works.

 

Founded in 1969, The Songwriter's Hall of Fame gave its first Johnny Mercer Award to Frank Sinatra in 1980. Since then, artists and writers such as Elton John, Burt Bacarach & Hal Coleman, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton and a list of others have been recipients.

 

BACKLINE MAGAZINE congratulates Philadelphia sons Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff as they continue to be recognized for their positive and influential work in music and beyond.

 

The ceremony will be held Thursday, June 12, 2014 at the NY Marriott Marquis, Broadway & 45th Street, NY, NY. Tickets are still available, and start at $1000. For information call Linda Buckley or Karen O'Connor at 914-579-1000 or email them at SHOF@buckleyhallevents.com.