Concert in the Park this Saturday

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Save the date! After a five-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this cherished Concert in the Park, held by the Islip Arts Council, is back on Saturday, Aug. 10, at 8 p.m.

Long Islanders are invited to bring their families to Heckscher Park to enjoy a free evening of spectacular music from Orchestra Long Island. The night of musical performances garners thousands of attendees each year to Heckscher State Park. This year, due to rainy weather this week, the concert has been relocated to the East Islip High School. Doors will open at 7:15 for the 8:00 concert on a first come, first served basis.

The 46-year musical tradition commemorates two milestones this year: the 100th anniversary of New York State Parks and the 50th anniversary of the Islip Arts Council.

The concert will be especially sentimental for native Long Islander and guest soloist, Eddie Barbash. His grandmother, Lillian Barbash, founded the Islip Arts Council. She began the annual Concert in the Park when she first brought the New York Philharmonic to Heckscher State Park over 45 years ago.

“It is especially exciting for me because I grew up going to this concert every year. The whole family would always travel in and see the concert, which was a big part of my childhood—getting to see the concert and fireworks. So now, to be on the other side, to be on the stage, will be a surreal experience,” shared Eddie Barbash. “I wish she was alive to see it because she would be so proud.”

Eddie Barbash was a founding member of the house band for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and is celebrated by Jon Batiste as "one of the world's most important saxophonists." His unmistakable sound is featured on the Oscar and Grammy-winning soundtrack of “Soul.” During his illustrious career, he performed a duet on national TV with Yo-Yo Ma, and he performs regularly with chamber choir Amor Artis.

After coming to see one of Barbash’s performances last spring, the idea occurred to Lynda Moran, executive director of Islip Arts Council, to name Barbash the guest soloist—though this will not be the first time Barbash has performed pieces dedicated to his grandmother.

“I actually made an album a couple of years ago called ‘For Murray and Lillian,’ just because I thought it was all music that they would have loved,” shared Barbash.

Concertgoers will also enjoy music from the talented Orchestra Long Island, conducted by the dignified David Stweart Wiley. Orchestra Long Island carries forward the musical legacy of the Long Island Philharmonic, believing Long Island communities deserve to have a professional orchestra that invigorates, educates, and elevates the cultural landscape.

Wiley serves as music director and conductor of Orchestra Long Island, and also performs around the globe as a pianist, composer, and conductor.

Attendees are invited to make the evening even more special by bringing a bag of nonperishable food for families struggling with food insecurity. Island Harvest volunteers will be on-site to accept donations.

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First two photos courtesy of the Islip Arts Council.
Last photo courtesy of Lena Nicholson for the McKittrick Hotel.