SING ME A SONG, PIANO MAN! PACIFIC SYMPHONY’S ANNUAL “SUMMER FESTIVAL” KICKS OFF WITH A JULY 4TH CELEBRATION FEATURING MICHAEL CAVANAUGH AND THE MUSIC OF BILLY JOEL!

It’s just a few weeks away: the official start to summer fun—set to music—in the great outdoors with family and friends at Irvine’s Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, the summer home of Pacific Symphony. “Summer Festival 2009,” the 22nd season of symphonic music under the stars, sponsored by The Orange County Register, kicks off on Saturday, July 4, at 8 p.m., with “Michael Cavanaugh in Concert: The Music of Billy Joel,” a celebration of not only the nation’s birthday, but also a composer whose work paints the modern American experience in vivid, unforgettable hues! Cavanaugh, star of the 2002 Tony-nominated musical “Movin’ Out,” channels this American icon with an electrifying concert of Joel’s hits: “Uptown Girl,” “Only the Good Die Young,” “She’s Got a Way,” “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” and “Movin’ Out.”

Conducted by the Symphony’s Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, the evening also includes a selection of feel-good tunes, including a performance of “Yankee Doodle,” by young violinist Elizabeth Basoff-Darskaia, “Shenandoah,” “Strike up the Band,” music from the recent blockbuster movie, “Star Trek,” a moving tribute to the U.S. Armed Forces—and a brilliant fireworks finale! Individual tickets are $22 (lawn) to $104 (orchestra); kids under 14 are half price with the purchase of an adult ticket in most sections. Five-concert packages range from $80 for lawn seating to $455 for orchestra seating. Guests are welcome to picnic on the grounds of the amphitheater. For more information on the series or purchasing tickets, call the Symphony ticket office at (714) 755-5799, or visit the website at www.pacificsymphony.org.

“The music of Billy Joel is a unique part of America’s musical life, so this concert is really the perfect way to celebrate the birthday of our magnificent country,” says Maestro Kaufman. “And all summer long, our concerts will be a reminder of what makes for superb entertainment for the entire family. There’s just nothing like spending a beautiful summer night in a great amphitheater listening to wonderful music!”

Cavanaugh captured the New York City spotlight as the star vocalist and pianist in the hit Broadway Musical “Movin’ Out.” Hand-picked by Billy Joel for the show’s starring role, Cavanaugh won the hearts of audiences and critics night after night during his three years and over 1,200 performances as the show’s captivating “Piano Man.” Cavanaugh received rave reviews and accolades while starring in “Movin’ Out,” including both Tony- and Grammy- award nominations. Shortly after his tremendous success in “Movin’ Out,” he began touring across the country performing before hundreds of thousands of fans at events of all kinds, securing his place as the leading interpreter of classic rock and popular songs written during the last 60 years.

Los Angeles native Elizabeth Basoff-Darskaia is a bright new talent in the music world, who has shown a great interest and talent in the arts since childhood. She has since performed in numerous solo concerts and recitals. In 2006, she was one of the featured young artists in the Nyack Music Festival, and performed with The Moscow Virtuoso Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin. In 2005, she had the opportunity to perform in the prestigious Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. She has also performed at events such as the Anna Akhmatova celebration in Los Angeles, the Russian Ball (Charity for Saint Petersburg) and the Young Musicians Foundation’s 49th Annual Benefit Gala.

Coming up—the Symphony’s second concert of the series takes place on Saturday, July 18, at 8 p.m., with Maestro Kaufman back for “Movie Night: The Best of Rodgers and Hammerstein,” featuring clips from “Carousel,” “South Pacific,” “Sound of Music” and more from the golden age of movie musicals. On Saturday, Aug. 8, at 8 p.m., Music Director Carl St.Clair takes the podium for “Carmina Burana,” one of the most dramatic and powerful pieces of music ever written, often heard on movie soundtracks, TV commercials and video games. For the fourth concert, on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 8 p.m. Music Director Carl St.Clair returns for “An American Portrait,” with the music of Copland, Dvorák and John Williams. The Symphony ends the series on a traditional and always heart-pounding note with “Tchaikovsky Spectacular,” on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. Led by Pacific Symphony’s own Assistant Conductor Maxim Eshkenazy, the concert features music by some of Russia’s best composers—including the “1812” Overture, with fireworks and cannons!