Woodbine Productions announces new season lineup

Tickets for Pentatonix, John Tesh & His Big Band Christmas Show, and Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway go on sale Sept. 12 at the Performing Arts Center Box Office. (Courtesy photos)

• Pentatonix, John Tesh, Sir James Galway to perform in Brookings

Award-winning entertainment is the common thread which weaves through the 2012-13 season of concerts booked by Woodbine Productions.

The new series features three concerts of diverse musical styles and starts with a cappela group Pentatonix on Oct. 28, followed by John Tesh and his Big Band Christmas Show on Dec. 10. Sir James Galway, the living legend of the flute, has been signed to perform March 26.

Season tickets go on sale Sept. 12 at the Performing Arts Center box office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in a special one-day, on-site sale.

Woodbine Productions is a project of the SDSU Foundation and is underwritten by an anonymous benefactor who is committed to bringing great performances and entertainment to Brookings and South Dakota, as well as helping the next generation of musicians.

The series has presented an eclectic variety of entertainers, ranging from Frankie Avalon and Aaron Neville to the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra and violin virtuoso Mark O’Connor. All ticket sales benefit scholarships for exceptional music students at SDSU.

Pentatonix

Pentatonix has a special a cappella swag. As winner of Season 3 of NBC reality show “The Sing-Off,” Pentatonix received a recording contract and national tour. It has won over millions of fans, from pre-teens to grandparents.

Performing top-40 hits from some of the biggest stars in music, Pentatonix boasts a modern style and draws influences from several underground electro genres, including dubstep and garage house.

Group members include a tenor lead, tenor and female harmony, and two beat boxers who employ vocal calisthenics in the place of acoustic percussion instruments. The group provides family-friendly entertainment, promoters say.

Brookings Mayor Tim Reed is a fan. “As soon as I learned Pentatonix was part of Woodbine Productions’ lineup, I knew I was taking my family. We followed them the entire season on the Sing-Off.”

The Pentatonix tour debuted in August with a concert in Arlington, Texas, to an estimated crowd of 12,000 when only 2,000-3,000 fans were expected. There have been more than 8 million YouTube views of their video cover of “Somebody That I Used To Know.”



John Tesh

The Woodbine series makes its first foray into holiday entertainment with John Tesh and his Big Band Christmas Show on Dec. 10. The man with the golden voice will be joined by his 14-piece Big Band.

Twenty-five years and 50-plus recordings into his multi-faceted and ever-evolving musical career, Tesh is finally ready to swing into the holidays. For the four-time Emmy Award winner and two-time Grammy nominee, these projects are unique creative departures from his rich history as a composer and performer of “sports music,” new age, contemporary jazz and inspirational works. More importantly, they mark a return to his musical roots.

A familiar face and voice to millions, Tesh’s highly successful and varied career path includes a 10-year run as anchor on Entertainment Tonight, six hit public TV specials and a string of No. 1 radio hits. He also hosts a popular nationally syndicated radio show “Intelligence For Your Life,” in which he has 14.5 million listeners, and has run a high-profile advertising and marketing company.



Sir James Galway

Woodbine Productions provides a musical respite in the midst of winter on March 26 with “the man with the golden flute,” Sir James Galway, with a special appearance by Lady Jeanne Galway.

The living legend of the flute, Sir James Galway is regarded as both the supreme interpreter of the classical flute repertoire and a consummate entertainer whose appeal crosses all musical boundaries.

The Brookings performance is part of the Galway “Legacy Tour” featuring the best-loved music of his career and reaching audiences at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and some of the most venerable concert halls in America. Prior to South Dakota, his tour stops will include Philadelphia, Boston and New York City.

Through his extensive touring, more than 30 million albums sold and frequent international television appearances, Sir James has endeared himself to millions worldwide and is a tireless promoter of the arts.

Among the many honors and awards for his musical achievements are the Recording Academy’s President’s Merit Award; Classic Brits Lifetime Achievement Award; numerous gold and platinum CDs and most recently being inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame.

He has been honored twice by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with The OBE in 1979 and again in 2001 with a Knighthood for his services to music. In 2009, Sir James was awarded the honor of being made the first Artist Laureate of the Ulster Orchestra.

Following the one-day offering Sept. 12, tickets may be ordered through the SDSU Music Department at 688-5188. Visit Woodbine Productions on Facebook for more information.