April 22, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sue Kennedy
301/346-2038 and 304/876-1092
Shepherdstown, WV—Friends of Music, the non-profit organization dedicated to supporting musical excellence at Shepherd University, is once again bringing an evening of elegance to the region with Tuxedo Junction. Planned for Friday, May 29, 2009, the Friends expect guests from West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC to converge on the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown, West Virginia to enjoy an evening of dancing to memories and sounds of Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller.
Tuxedo Junction promises to relive a time when ladies in elegant ball gowns and men in smart tuxedos dined out and danced the night away. All proceeds will benefit the Shepherd University Department of Music. This is the second annual Tuxedo Junction fundraiser by the Friends of Music. Last year’s event, which included a sumptuous dinner and uniquely exciting silent auction, was quickly and completely sold out and contributed $21,000 to benefit the extraordinary musicians at Shepherd University.
Ensembles of the SU music department will have completed a musical tour of Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic at the invitation of several heads of state May 16-26 and will return to the U.S. just in time to provide the music at Tuxedo Junction. "We teach our students to commit to excellence and to make their lives extraordinary. When we travel abroad, we witness both," said Dr. Mark McCoy, music department chair. "With funds raised by last year's event, all kinds of extraordinary things have become possible including this tour. I can't wait to tell the Friends about it when we hit the dance floor at Tuxedo Junction." "The Second Annual Tuxedo Junction promises to again be an overwhelming success," said FOM board chairman, Dr. Robert Northrup.
"Music is our universal language." Said Val Smith. "For years, Friends of Music has been bringing world-class music to the world through the talented and tireless efforts of the Shepherd University Department of Music. With every scholarship it awards, with every instrument it buys, every teacher it supports, and with every young ambassador it sends around the world, Friends of Music speaks this language of good will. It’s an honor for us to lead this magical effort and support talented leaders of tomorrow." Northrup and Smith are the Tuxedo Junction co-chairs.
For more information, call Friends of Music at 304.876.5765 or visit www.sufom.org