Get ready to dust off your bell bottoms and rock out to classic hits from the 1970s.
The University of Hawaii at Hilo Choral Program, together with special guest artists, presents “That 70s Concert” at 2 p.m. Sunday at the UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center.
Tickets are $10 (general), $7 (discount), $5 (students with valid ID; children 17 and under). For more information or to purchase tickets, call 932-7490 or go to http://artscenter.uhh.hawaii.edu/.
“That 70s Concert” gets its groove on with choirs, soloists, pianists and a band. Hit songs from the decade of tie-dye and classic rock bring back memories and introduce younger audience members to live performances of iconic numbers.
The concert features the Kapili Choir and University Chorus from UH-Hilo. The Kapili Choir is directed by Mark Sheffield, and the University Chorus is directed by Amy Horst. Walter Greenwood is the pianist for both groups.
Joining the choirs is Sheffield’s group VOICES; the That 70s Concert Band, featuring community players as well as UH-Hilo Jazz Orchestra members; guitarist Loren Antolik; and guest soloists.
Soloists include Kanako Okita and Erin Smith, along with UH-Hilo performing arts stalwarts Adrianna Zablan, Joshua Timmons, Dustin Kneidl, Paige Okimoto, Bridge Hartman and Payton Meyer.
The concert will include soloists, small groups and large ensemble performances of some of the ’70s’ best-loved musical hits. Music from “Star Wars” shares billing with “Desperado,” “Superstition,” “Piano Man,” “Morning Has Broken” and many more iconic tunes.
This concert also brings Sheffield’s talents as a conductor to Hilo audiences. Sheffield’s experiences in conducting and teaching bring together musicians from all walks of life for this concert.
Horst, longtime UH-Hilo choral director, said, “This is not your grandma’s choir concert. Well, actually — it might be! Did your Grandma dance and sing to tunes like ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ or ‘Top of the World’? If so, this is definitely a concert for grandma and the whole family.”
Asked about how he came to create “That 70s Concert,” Sheffield said, “For several years, I’ve had a goal of bringing together singers and players from all walks of life, on the UH-Hilo PAC stage, to make great music together. When Amy invited me to run this show, I took her up on that invitation and really ran with it.”