Group From Carnegie Hall Dazzles Samuel Field Y

The Samuel Field Y’s adult center was teeming with music lovers and the air was overflowing with melodies, rifts and harmonious voices on Thursday afternoon during the Second Annual New York Pops Educational Concert.

Entitled “Strike Up The Band: An Afternoon of Gershwin,” the roughly one-hour event provided agency program participants and the greater Little Neck/Douglaston community with the opportunity to experience a live performance by six female musicians who are part of a residency program at Carnegie Hall.

And The New York Pops members didn’t disappoint, executing a 10-song set of tunes written by Brooklyn native George Gershwin, the prolific pianist and composer whose resume includes the opera Porgy and Bess, the orchestral arrangement Rhapsody in Blue and countless ditties made famous by Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Barbra Streisand, Dean Martin and other crooners.

As such, there was a general feeling of excitement in the crowd before the gig. Many of the more than 150 attendees grew up listening to tunes by Gershwin, who died in 1937 at age 39. And many smiling, giddy concert-goers mouthed the lyrics as the band played.

“He’s my favorite composer,” said Aaron Siwek, a World War II veteran. “‘Summertime’ [from the soundtrack to Porgy & Bess] is my favorite song.”

“I love the music,” added an exhilarated Sheila Plotnick. “This is the best.”

The enthusiasm was so great that it inspired the performers.

“I’m excited to play for people who were there when this music was in its heyday,” said Pops vocalist Charenee Wade just before going on stage. “They really know it.”