Downtown Freehold Concert Series Announces Slate for 2011-2012 Season

The idea started with a piano key.

In 2008, members of  in Freehold Borough organized a fundraising effort to bring a new grand piano to the historic location, according to Director of Music and Organist Mark Hyczko.

“There are such great acoustics in the church,” said Gail Reilly, who co-chairs the Downtown Concert Series with Hyczko.

The enthusiastic coalition of parishioners pooled their talents, with Antonio Ortiz advising the group on its marketing efforts. Soon the committee introduced a fundraising campaign, allowing donors to sponsor a piano key.

When the Yamaha S6 arrived at St. Peter’s, the parishioners faced a new challenge: how do we make the best use of the instrument?

“We wanted to show the piano in use other than just a piano concert,” Hyczko said.

The church organized a concert in May 2010 featuring eight opera singers who had previously performed at St. Peter’s. The community’s positive response to the event gave birth to the church’s Downtown Concert Series.

“The concert was such a success, it was clear we should go on,” Hzczko said.

The series organizers worked their contacts in the professional classical music community to book three additional performances in the 2010-2011 season. Pianist Michael Sheppard, guitarist Kenji Haba, violinist Gregory Durozel, and operatic tenor Eduardo Villa made appearances during the Downtown Concert Series’ first year.

The series’ organizers are now gearing up for its second season and recently announced the slate of performers for 2011-2012. The New York Polyphony will launch the season on Saturday, Sept. 24; pianist Juan Pablo Horcasitas performs Sat. Nov. 19; Dave Clive and Nawlins Funk Band brings jazz and blues to St. Peter’s on Sat., Feb. 18; and The Parker Quarter is scheduled for Saturday, May 5.

The concerts will take place at St. Peter’s Church and will each begin at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for each concert are $20, with discounted tickets for children 18 and under available for $10. A season subscription to the Downtown Concert Series is available for $60 if ordered before Friday, Aug. 26 and $70 if ordered from Saturday, Aug. 27 to Saturday, Sept. 24.

Seating is limited so series organizers recommend preordering tickets. To purchase tickets or for more information, call 732-431-8383 or visit downtownconcertseries.org.