Our 19th, 2014 Benefit Concert was a big success. We raised money towards our show in May and had a wonderful time, too! And the kids learned all of these songs even though there was a snow day so most of them only had two classes to learn the songs before our concert. Great job, everyone!
Here is the review by Jan Mooney in Tower Topics:
Toe-tapping, Foot-stomping Bluegrass (and Beyond) Enlivened Smith Hall!
Nothing could be finer than an audio taste of Carolina on a cold win- ter afternoon. You truly missed out If you missed “The Hershey Russo Family Bluegrass Concert,” held Sunday, January 19. Playing to a capacity crowd at the first of two afternoon performances, Betina Hershey Russo, an accomplished guitarist with a voice like a bell, also served as master of ceremonies for an hour-long Southern music road trip.
Members of the Rising Stars and The Garden Players — all under Betina’s tutelage —added their luster and charm to engaging renditions of country classics, like “Five Hundred Miles,” Keep on the Sunny Side” and “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.” Unlike the adult musicians accompanying them, the younger performers learned these songs only three weeks before show time, their teacher was quick to note.
As to the legal-age performers, they also comprised: Nick Russo on guitar, Raphael McGregor on lap steel guitar, David Pleasant on percussion and drums, and Sunny Knable, The-Church-in-the-Gardens’ music director, on guitar and piano.
Everyone did a stand-up job worthy of a standing ovation.
– review by Liz Mooney