A New York State of Mind, a benefit for the Natchez Festival of Music, will be an event not to be missed. The evening will include hits from Broadway’s greatest musicals, an elegant dinner prepared by chef Bingo Starr, silent auction featuring Natchez and Louisiana artists and a live auction featuring great dinner and travel packages with Rusty Jenkins as auctioneer.

This year’s musical entertainment will include the always entertaining John Christopher Adams, who will sing songs of a New York State of Mind. Many of you may know him best for his performances during the annual Christmas Cabaret. Adams will be accompanied by David Benson, pianist.

A silent auction will provide many spectacular pieces of art including paintings, framed photos, jewelry, pottery and much more along with items such as tennis lessons. Once the dinner and show are over the live auction will be sure to entertain with Natchez’s own Rusty Jenkins commanding the stage. Live auction items include an assortment of travel and dining packages including a Gatlinburg, Tenn., getaway, a Natchitoches, La., trip to the new hotel, Chateau Saint Dennis, a wine and cheese Party by John Burns and more!

A New York State of Mind will begin at 7 p.m. with a cash bar, dinner and both a silent and live auction at The Carriage House Restaurant on the grounds of historic Stanton Hall, 401 High St. Tickets are limited and cost $75 ($40 is tax deductible) and may be purchased in advance by visiting www.natchezfestivalofmusic.com, calling 888-718-4253, visiting any of our ticket partners, Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, Tourology or Destination Natchez or at the door.

The Natchez Festival of Music is celebrating its 27th season with, By Way of The River – A Natchez Salute to the Mississippi Bicentennial. The season will kick off with the return of Grammy nominated Vasti Jackson performing “Best of the Mississippi Blues II” on Saturday, May 6th. The popular “Rossini, Puccini and Martinis” has moved to Tuesdays during the month of May and “Rockin’ on the River” featuring Brint Anderson, Ben Lewis and Speakeasy at Bowie’s Tavern on Wednesdays during the month of May. Jonathan Levin will make his return to the festival with “Revolution, Romanticism and Rachmaninoff.” Other events will include “That Sensational Sondheim,” from “Mississippi to Motown,” a tribute to Mississippi’s greatest classical composers and performers called “Mississippi Concert Hall,”  a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald called “The First Lady of Song,” “Camelot,” “Highway to Heaven” with Alvin Shelby and the Natchez Community Gospel Choir, an evening of Elvis Presley starring Victor Trevino called “The King of Rock and Roll” and the close of the season will be Saturday, May 27th with “The Barber of Seville.”

The festival is proud to bring back its series of free children’s events every Saturday during the month of May with “Little Red Riding Hood,” “A Musical Instrument Petting Zoo,” “Fairy Tales in Music” and “Painting with Emotion.”

Please visit us at www.natchezfestivalofmusic.com for further announcements and details about our complete 2017 May Season.
Katie Johnson McCabe is the Natchez Festival of Music chairman of marketing and publicity.