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Tickets are $25 and can be or at the door.

Meet the Artists

Deanna Reuben, Vocals

Deanna Reuben '79 has had an extensive vocal performance and recording career, appearing throughout the mid-Atlantic states, most notably as a professional soloist with the internationally renowned Paul Hill Chorale and the Washington Singers. She has performed under such maestros such as Marvin Hamlisch and Leonard Slatkin, and in prominent venues as The Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, Carnegie Hall, and the Academy of Music. A former classical singer, she is now known as one of the finest singers of the American Songbook, and has recorded and produced 4 albums: "The Look of Love," "On Life and Love," "The Very Thought of You" and "Christmas is Here." All have received commercial and public radio airplay, as well as global streaming on multiple platforms. Deanna has taught voice and piano for many years, as well as directing community and church choirs. She developed and still teaches a course entitled “Singing into Your 60’s and Beyond” and is currently working on a new vocal course using a straw to vocalize to improve vocal function, reduce strain and enhance vocal quality. Since graduating from Alvernia College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, she has remained deeply involved with the university in many different capacities, giving back to an institution that gave her so much.

Marty Mellinger, Piano

Marty Mellinger is the founder and owner of Cross Keys Recording Studio, formerly Schoolhouse Productions Recording Studio, since 1993. He is a gifted pianist, recording engineer, producer, composer, arranger, and musician working on projects with artists in all genres. Recipient of numerous Addie awards for national TV spots, Mellinger was the 2011 recipient of the Berks Arts Council’s Frank Scott Award. In 1988 he was the Regional Grammy Nominee as Jazz Producer for Frank Scott’s, Never Too Old to Dream. In addition, he received the Best Jazz Album of the Year award in 2011 for his mixing and recording with the Dave Liebman Group on the record Turnaround. He has written and produced over 800 commercials and short film scores, including Armstrong World Industries and Ford New Holland. He has recorded and produced over 240 CD’s and album projects. He was the former Music Director for “Marty and the Mangoes” and “Spiral Starecase.” Marty has performed with Rita Coolidge, the Sammy Kaye Orchestra, Mary Wilson, Ray Parker, Jr., the Three Degrees, Rick Derringer, Wayne Newton, Simone, and has performed in tours internationally and throughout the United States, including concerts at the Kimmel Center, Blue Note in Japan, Edinburgh Festival and the Paris Jazz Fest.

Paul Colombo, Guitar

Paul Colombo is an accomplished guitarist, vocalist, composer, arranger and educator whose career spans more than four decades. His Paul Colombo Group has recorded two albums of original contemporary jazz music, Rio Crystal and Mabrouka, the later receiving international attention. His newly released single is entitled Crescent City.  Paul has an extensive performance and recording career with artists such as Neil Sedaka, Peter Nero, The Delfonics and Taylor Hicks. He also has made appearances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Philly Pops, The Reading Symphony Orchestra, the Harrisburg Symphony, and the Hershey Theatre. Paul teaches guitar in his own studio and at �鶹��Ƶ. Paul received his undergraduate degree in music from the University of Miami and his Masters in Music from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
 

Bennie Sims, Bass

Bennie Sims is an in-demand bass player, singer, composer, producer, recording engineer, bandleader and music educator. Bennie was playing professional bass at the young age of 18 traveling the road with singer Bobby Newton. Later, as the bassist and music director for The Three Degrees, and for singer/actress Lisa Simone (the daughter of Nina Simone), he has traveled all over the world playing in 24 countries. Local audiences, however, know him for performing in many venues around the county, and at every Berks Jazz Fest for the last 29 years as part of the kickoff luncheon at the Peanut Bar with The Groovemasters. Bennie was the recipient of the Berks Arts Council’s Frank Scott award in 2021. Bennie also owns Boom Camp Publishing, a music production studio.
 

Bill Tesar, Drums

Bill Tesar was born in New York City to a family of musicians. His dad was a trumpet virtuoso whose students included Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis. His mother was a gifted pianist. Bill originally began playing piano at the age of 5, took up the drums at 14, and has been playing professionally since the age of 16. Majoring in music at William Paterson University, he was one of the youngest recipients of a grant for Jazz Performance from the National Endowment of the Arts. To name just a few of the artists he has performed or recorded with are Michael Jackson, Madonna, Joe Pesci, Hank Roberts, The Shirelles, New Jersey Percussion Ensemble and the New York Contemporary Chamber Ensemble.