Muskegon, Michigan, Nov. 13, 2015 – Vocalists Diane Penning and Paul Langford will be appearing at The Block, West Michigan Symphony’s alternative performance venue, Saturday, Dec. 12.
Soprano Diane Penning will be joined by pianist, singer and arranger Paul Langford for an eclectic program that includes repertoire from Broadway, jazz standards and beloved pop hits.
Paul Langford hails from Chicago and is a versatile pianist and music arranger and can play everything from smooth jazz to pop, to Broadway. Also a vocalist, his style has been compared to Michael Buble.
Penning refers to herself as a crossover singer, “Classically trained but able to crossover into the jazz/pop genre as well.” She continued, “I love to sing just about everything, and Paul can play just about anything, so we’re a good team.”
The Dec. 12 concert will feature well-known pieces like “Almost Like Being in Love” from the musical “Brigadoon” and Gershwin’s “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” Penning and Langford also plan to perform songs from their touring show called “Off the Charts” which features a Burt Bacharach medley that includes “I Say a Little Prayer for You,” “Alfie” and “What the World Needs Now.” Broadway selections include “Tonight” from “West Side Story,” “If Ever I Would Leave You” from “Camelot,” as well as some tunes from “The Sound of Music.”
Of the repertoire Penning said, “Basically our show will be a fun evening of extremely popular songs. The audience will know almost every one of them.” But just to keep things interesting, the duo also plans to sprinkle in a few specially chosen new songs.
This is Penning’s second performance at The Block and she is thrilled to return, bringing her “wonderfully talented” colleague Paul Langford with her. Penning travels extensively this time of year performing Holiday concerts and will perform in the West Michigan Symphony Dec. 11 Holiday Pops concert. Penning, a West Michigan native, remarked “It will be great to be ‘home’ for the West Michigan Holiday Pops!”
Tickets to the 7:30 concert are $25 and $35 and can be purchased by calling the West Michigan Symphony ticket office: 231.726.3231 ext. 223; online at TheBlockWestMichigan.org; or in person at 360 W. Western Ave. in Muskegon. Doors and bar open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit TheBlockWestMichigan.org.