“Surf’s Up! A Tribute to the Beach Boys,” opens the 2018-19 Wheeling Symphony Orchestra season, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, with music director finalist Timothy Hankewich and guest artists Phil Dirt and the Dozers.
The performance will be held at the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling.
It’s time for some fun, fun, fun, the California surf, sand in your shoes and a great big setting sun! It’s the music of America! It’s “Surf’s Up! A Tribute to the Beach Boys!” Join Phil Dirt and the Dozers with the WSO as they play all your favorite hits, including “California Girls,” “God Only Knows,” “Help Me Rhonda” and “Surfin’ USA.” It’s the music you know and love, so grab your ticket and sing along as we keep the summer feelin’ alive!
Phil Dirt and the Dozers formed in 1981 and have been praised, honored and downright loved by people everywhere. From their rise in Columbus, The Dozers have kept their eyes keenly focused on musical perfection, quality and entertaining their audiences. They have traveled the continent performing to thousands of fans, appeared on local and national television including their own TV show and have several albums to their name. Band members include Steve Cabot (vocals), Mark Frye (keyboards, saxophone, flute, bass guitar, vocals), Tony Alfano (guitar, vocals), Hadden Sayers (guitar) and Chris Guthrie (drums).
Hankewich is currently the music director for Orchestra Iowa, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he resides with his wife Jill. He is a native of Dawson Creek, British Columbia. He graduated with both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the University of Alberta. He received his doctorate degree in instrumental and opera conducting from Indiana University. His studies also have included summers in Victoria (as a young pianist), Vienna and Aspen (as a conductor), where he worked under the tutelage of Maestros Bruno Weill and David Zinman, respectively.
What’s on Tim Hankewich’s playlist? Who is his favorite composer? What’s attached to his suspenders? Find out in Monday’s special edition of “WEEasked.”
Hankewich is looking forward to conducting the season opener, which he says will be filled with “good vibrations.”
“We get to escape to the beach one more time before the end of summer, as the Wheeling Symphony will hang 10 with Phil Dirt and the Dozers performing all of the great hits of the Beach Boys,” Hankewich said. “I love this show because it reminds me of the music I listened to growing up — I still do by the way. It’s the perfect soundtrack for beach bums and sun-worshipers. [The band] faithfully recreates all the sunny hits as recorded by the Beach Boys, now with the added benefit of having a full symphony orchestra behind them joining in all the fun, fun, fun. It will make for an evening of good vibrations. Can’t wait to see you there.”
Prior to the concert, patrons can attend a pre-concert Party in the Alley catered by Sarah Lydick from Sarah’s on Main starting at 6 p.m. The Party in the Alley will feature food, beer, wine and more, and will take place in the alley adjacent to the Capitol Theatre. Seating is limited for Party in the Alley.
The symphony board of directors invites attendees to stay for a free post-show reception with Maestro Hankewich and other members of the symphony orchestra, immediately following the performance.
Tickets to the concert start at $18.50 and can be purchased online at wheelingsymphony.com, by phone at 304-232-6191, via email at boxoffice@wheelingsymphony.com or in person at the box office, located at 1025 Main St., Suite 811, Wheeling.
Patrons 18 or younger can get tickets for $7.50. Additional discounts are available for college students and groups of 10 or more.
Tickets to the Party in the Alley are $40 per person. Patrons can purchase a combined Party in the Alley ticket plus concert ticket for $55 per person. For Party in the Alley reservations, call 304-232-6191 or email boxoffice@wheelingsymphony.com.
More information is available at wheelingsymphony.com.
