Opening Ceremony

James L Knight Center
8:15 pm

The Opening Ceremony will bring everyone together to celebrate the beginning of Festival 2008! We will take a brief look at the 25 years of GALA Choruses and recognize all of the member choruses of GALA. Our featured entertainer will be the delightfully talented Ann Hampton Callaway.

Ann Hampton Callaway

Ann Hampton Callaway is one of the finest singer/songwriters of our time. The statuesque performer dazzles music lovers as a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, and educator. Her talents have made her equally at home in jazz and pop as well as on stage, in the recording studio, on TV and in film. She is best known for starring in the hit Broadway musical "SWING!" and for writing and singing the theme to the internationally successful TV series, "THE NANNY". Ann is a devoted keeper–of–the–flame of the great American songbook. She brings fresh and original interpretations to these timeless classics and works to uphold the canon by writing songs with Cole Porter, Carole King, Barbara Carroll and others. Her spontaneity, intelligence, and soulful charisma have won her a diverse fan–base including notables as Barbra Streisand, Clive Davis, Carly Simon and Wynton Marsalis.

Ann fondly remembers the first song she made up at the age of three. But it wasn't until she first heard Carole King's "TAPESTRY" that she decided to devote herself to songwriting. Since then she has composed over 250 songs for television, Broadway, off-Broadway and several of today's leading interpreters of songs. Her music and lyrics have been performed and recorded by Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Patti Lupone, Michael Feinstein, Blossom Dearie, Peter Nero, Karrin Allyson, Donna McKechnie, Harvey Fierstein, Lillias White, Barbara Carroll, Amanda McBroom, Liz Callaway and Carole King herself. One of Ann's songwriting highlights was writing "Tonight You're All Mine" with Ms. King in the studio the same day it was recorded for the CD SLOW.

The Opening Ceremony will take place at the James L Knight Center which is attached to the Hyatt Regency Miami. The free Metromover will take you right to the building. When you get off of the train, follow signs for Hyatt/James L Knight Center.