Chouteau County, you are in for a special treat. The Empire Trio returns to Fort Benton with their inspiring show "Hooray for Hollywood", 100 years of movie musical magic. You may remember them as O' Sole Trio from a few years back. Chouteau County Performing Arts along with Max Ag for piano tuning, and 12th and Front for lodging, are presenting this show on April 8th at the Fort Benton Elementary School Auditorium, at 7 PM. This show is a special addition to our usual performance series, since The Piatigorsky Foundation musicians may not be touring in Montana this spring.

EMPIRE TRIO presents the most beloved and famous songs from the world of film. Come hear songs from Casablanca, James Bond, Titanic, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, and stories about the great singers who performed them, from Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra to Céline Dion and Barbra Streisand. This musical review of some of the most beloved and celebrated songs from the silver screen, covers songs from the 1920s to the present day. You'll be dazzled by lively classics such as "Good Morning", "Accentuate the Positive", "Get Happy", "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", Moon River", "As Time Goes BY", and "Can't Help Falling in Love with You". While most of the songs will be sung as solos, duets and trios, with sublime piano accompaniment, you'll also hear instrumental performances, such as the haunting "Theme from Schindler's List" performed on violin and piano. This show truly is a uniquely presented glamorous soundtrack of the greatest movie music of all time.

Empire Trio is an exhilarating and uniquely talented classical crossover ensemble, that has been taking concert halls by storm all over the world. They were formed in 2012 when three musicians came to live in New York City to pursue their dreams of becoming world class performing musicians. When these three musicians met a musical explosion occurred resulting in the creation of O' Sole Trio. During the 2019-2020 season O' Sole Trio became Empire Trio, and with this new chapter came new and exciting talents. They quickly established themselves as a musical force, selling out major venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The Redlands Bowl, and over 300 other venues all over the United States, Canada, and the UK.

Empire Trio features the lush and mesmerizing voice of soprano Erin Shields, the versatile and virtuosic David Shenton on piano and violin, the world's first (and possibly only) musician to play violin and piano simultaneously. The third member of the trio is the male vocalist, baritone Adam Cannedy.

From deliciously witty to incredibly moving, Empire Trio's shows have it all. They breathe new life into familiar toe-tapping favorites with their unique and innovative arrangements. The trio has garnered rave reviews from audiences and critics alike, and continue to tour extensively throughout the United States. They are extremely proud to provide educational outreach concerts and masterclasses to children of all ages and economic backgrounds.

Erin Shields is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Music, Erin also studied voice in Vienna, Austria. She started her professional career at age 17 when she sang the National Anthem for Michael Jordan & The Chicago Bulls. Since then, her vocal versatility has allowed her to perform several different genres all over the country. She has sung numerous times with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra including Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Verdi's Requiem and Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream starring Marcia Gay Harden and Campbell Scott and worked with such renowned conductors as Neeme Järvi, Sir John Elliott Gardner, Sir Neville Marriner and Leon Botstein. Erin's CD, I'd Rather Be Lonely, features songs from the Great American Songbook and some of the best jazz musicians NYC has to offer.

Hailed for his "sonorous and secure voice" (Opera Today), baritone Adam Cannedy is quickly making his way on opera stages across the country. A champion of contemporary opera, Mr. Cannedy has collaborated with and performed for living composers including Carlisle Floyd, Ned Rorem and Philip Glass. Highlights of his work in contemporary opera include Oliver Knussen's Where the Wild Things Are.

David Shenton is an English-born pianist, violinist, composer, and arranger based in New York City. Born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, David studied violin and piano at The Royal College of Music in London from where he graduated with the highest honors. As pianist/music director David has worked with renowned members of the music profession in all genres, including Vanessa Williams, Tony Bennett, Renée Fleming and Sir André Previn. He gave his Carnegie Hall début in 2014 when he conducted his own orchestra/big band in front of a sold-out house. A prolific arranger, David has worked for Abbey Road & CTS Studios, on Hollywood movies, West End & Broadway shows. David began writing music at the age of 9 and has written hundreds of pieces including a symphony, 2 piano concertos, 2 violin concertos and 2 string quartets all composed before the age of 11. He teaches extensively and, as a coach, accompanist and teaching professor, has been on the faculties of NYU, The New School. The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, St. Thomas Choir School, and Music Director at Grace Church School in Manhattan. He is also a composer in residence in the advanced class of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop.

Learn more about Chouteau County Performing Arts, and upcoming shows at our website http://www.fortbenton.com/arts. Or find us on Facebook.

Admission is by CCPA season ticket or $15 at the door the night of the show. Students currently enrolled in school in Chouteau County get free admission. For more information, please call 750-2918.

CCPA concerts are presented in part by the Montana Performing Arts Presenter Development Program which is supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Montana Arts Council, and a legislative grant from Montana's Cultural Trust. Events are also underwritten with funding from Western States Arts Federation, the Lippard-Clawiter Foundation, and the Leroy and Claris Strand Foundation.