The public is invited to a free FAN-tastic concert on Friday, June 23 at Po-Hi Concert Hall at 7:30 pm.

The program will start with the 2021 Music Club Education scholarship winner, Nikolas Hoecker. Nik has a fantastic bass voice and will be singing “Hellfire” from Hunchback of Notre Dame and “I Confess” from Footloose. Suzanne Sumpter will be his accompanist.

The String Trio, lead by violinist Jaryd Hinch, and includes Cassidy Broome, cellist and Suzanne Sumpter, pianist. This Fan-tastic group will present a wide variety of music, beginning with “Tico-Tico no fuba,” a Brazillian piece that reached its peak of popularity in the 1940s and still popular today. Edward Elgar’s “Salut d’Amour,” a piece of lyrical beauty. “Merry-Go-Round of Life” is from the Hayao Miyazaki animated film Howl’s Moving Castle (2004). “Send in the Clowns” is from the 1973 movie A Little Night Music. Ending with “A Town with an Ocean View” from the 1989 animated film, Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Brandon Haynes, a baritone who can just as easily sing tenor or soprano with equal great quality, will be singing “All Good Gifts” from Godspell by Stephen Schwartz, “Sence You Went Away” from Nightsongs by Leslie Adams, “Make Them Hear You” from Ragtime by Stephen Flaherty and “Down By The Riverside” a Spiritual. Suzanne Sumpter will be his accompanist.

Mike Seals, everyone’s favorite Jazz pianist, along with Don Long percussion and Kinnamon Clark, bass, make up the Mike Seals Jazz Trio. They will be performing a great variety of jazz pieces including “A Child is Born” by Thad Jones, “Crystal Silence” by Chick Corea, “Morning Dance” by Jay Beckstein and everyone’s favorite, “Summertime” by George Gershwin.

A special added treat to the concert will be Mike Seals protégé, Kayden Jalali of Wichita, a high school senior. Kayden will perform Chopin’s “Waterfall” Opus 10, Etude 1.

Just when you think it couldn’t get better with the above line up of performers, then we conclude with a medley of songs from Forever Plaid by Stuart Ross. Here’s a brief comment about the show: “Singing in close harmony, the “Plaids” are a guaranteed smash, with a program of beloved songs and delightful patter that keeps audiences rolling in the aisles when they’re not humming along to some of the great nostalgic pop hits of the 1950s.”

Performers include 1st tenor, Eddie Dixon, 2nd tenor Chad Anderson, baritone Ryan Smykil and bass, Chris Schelp. Suzanne Sumpter is also the accompanist for this terrific quartet. These men are currently practicing for the complete performance of Forever Plaid at the Ponca Playhouse which will be August 11-13, 2023.

Watch for more information about each of the groups/individuals in the Ponca City News June 20-23.