Parsons Area Concert Association

“It’s your life – but killer funny.”

That’s how the members of this award-winning comedy troupe make everybody laugh. With original music and parodies of familiar songs, on-point material about life and work, and superior comedy writing, this cast of five NYC comics and singers (with piano accompaniment) celebrates the insanity of everyday life.

The Water Coolers, recipients of the 2009 Ensemble Entertainer of the Year award from Event Solutions Magazine, feature cast members whose résumés include performances at top comedy clubs like Igby’s, the Improv and the Comic Strip, and in Broadway or Broadway touring productions of shows such as “Rock of Ages,” “Spamalot” and “Wicked.”

Each performance is a high-energy, hilarious session of song and sketch comedy, kept fresh by the ever-changing challenges of modern life. The Water Coolers turn headaches and hassles into hilarity.

The Water Cooler's web site(external link)

“Magnetic”, “Captivating” and “Genuinely soulful” are just a few of the accolades describing Sean Jones, a performer whose international stock is on the rise. His interpretive performances of R&B and Soul classics have wooed fans from across Canada and the US.

Sean Jones previously fronted R&B vocal group “In Essence”, a five member vocal group renowned for their spectacular harmonies. Their recording of “You Will Never Have Another ” became a mix show radio hit throughout America leading to a multinational record label deal with BMG Music.

In Essence’s first album garnered two hit singles and videos winning both “R&B video of the Year” at Much Music, and “R&B Records of the Year” at the Juno Awards.

Now touring and recording as a solo artist, Sean’s Live On Stage tour features a live band, and he will perform the memorable classics of Motown and R&B from artists including Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and many more.

Sean Jones' web site(external link)

A classical string quartet that rocks? Yes!

Carpe Diem String Quartet is an exciting group that is becoming one of the most versatile ensembles of their generation. The group performs the classical string quartet repertoire, but their musical passion has led them down the paths of Gypsy, tango, folk, pop, rock, and jazz-inspired music.

Carpe Diem’s latest disc was selected for the 2009 Grammy Awards Entry List in no fewer than four categories: Best Classical Album, Best Chamber Music Performance, Best New Artist, and Best Engineered Album-Classical. Recent ambitious projects include the complete recordings of the nine string quartets of Sergey Taneyev and a collaboration with Columbus Dance Theater aired by WOSU-PBS television.

With outside-the-box programs, electrifying performances, and a passion for audience engagement, Carpe Diem has earned critical acclaim and concert ovation.

Carpe Diem's web site(external link)

Profiled in Chamber Music Magazine, the Poulenc Trio has crafted a unique repertoire of rediscovered masterpieces and exciting new works. Along with appearances at the Kennedy Center and the National Gallery of Art, the trio was featured at Italy’s prestigious Ravello Festival, where they premiered two compositions written especially for the group by Gaetano Panariello and Igor Raykhelson.

Three uniquely gifted virtuosos – oboist Vladimir Lande, bassoonist Bryan Young and pianist Irina Kaplan – combine brilliant 21st-century vibrancy with the best of European instrumental tradition, enthralling audiences worldwide.

With nimble creativity, the Poulenc Trio has recently partnered with some of the great American museums, performing remarkable programs that complement current exhibits. Whatever the stage, the trio’s performances leap beyond the ordinary concert experience to a world of beautiful sonorities, playful rhythms and dramatic excitement.

The Poulenc Trio's web site(external link)