Aug. 27, 2024

Contact Dillon McArdle at 608-796-3730 or dtmcardle@viterbo.edu

DAVE MARCK AND FRIENDS TO PRESENT FREE CONCERT STARDUST: A CELEBRATION OF HOAGY CARMICHAEL AT VITERBO UNIVERSITY SEPT. 11

LA CROSSE, Wis. – New York pianist and La Crosse native Dave Marck and his friends will perform a free concert, Stardust: A Celebration of Hoagy Carmichael, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11 in the Viterbo University Fine Arts Center Main Theatre.

Carmichael, who embraced the new mass media technologies of recordings, radio, film, and television, was one of the most successful Tin Pan Alley composers of the 1930s. Four of his songs went on to be some of the most recorded in American music history. The concert will include classic songs such as Stardust, Heart and Soul, The Nearness of You, Skylark, and Georgia on My Mind.

“As we continue with our survey of the great American songbook, Hoagy Carmichael is probably one of the most jazz orientated of those composers,” Marck said. “These are beautiful songs and many have been adopted by pop music performers. Audience members will hear many tunes they know, and we’ve discovered some new music we’ve never played before that will add to the fun.”

Marck will be joined by longtime colleagues Greg Balfany on saxophone, Karyn Quinn on bass, and Rich MacDonald on drums. Marck spends much of the year in New York, where he is an acclaimed jazz pianist. He returns to La Crosse each year to visit friends and family and to perform in the area. This is his 10th free concert at Viterbo.

“Coming back to the region to play with excellent musicians who happen to be my very good friends in the beautiful Viterbo Fine Arts Center is the highlight of my year,” Marck said.

The concert is sponsored by the Bob and Jean Marck Family Gift of Music and the La Crosse Community Foundation Ambrosius Fund. The Marck Family Gift of Music was created in memory of Marck’s parents, Bob and Jean, to support free, live music events in the community. Marck looks forward to carrying on his parents’ goal of making community connections while having a great deal of fun.

Doors will open at 7 p.m., and seating is first-come, first-served. This is not a ticketed event. For more information, call the Viterbo Box Office at 608-796-3100.

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