The Akron Symphony will present Fanfare 2008: The Ultimate Elvis Experience. The annual gala event raises money benefit the Akron Symphony Orchestra, Youth Symphony, and Chorus.
The event will begin with a dinner and live auction at the Radisson Hotel Akron City Centre and culminate in a one-night only concert celebrating the music of Elvis Presley at the Akron Civic Theatre.
Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. and feature an Elvis-themed menu of southern cuisine. During dinner, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of live auction items including several trips to see other symphony orchestras in cities around the United States. Those attending dinner will enjoy complimentary transportation to the Akron Civic Theatre for the concert.
The concert begins at 8 p.m. and will star award-winning Elvis tribute artist Shawn Klush, the winner of the BBC's "World's Greatest Elvis" competition and recently crowned by Elvis Presley Enterprises as the "Closest to the King." Performing with Klush will be Elvis' longtime backup singers, the legendary Imperials Quartet. A special post-concert dessert reception, compliments of West Side Bakery, will follow the performance.
A trip for two to Las Vegas will be raffled and the winner announced after the concert's intermission. The trip will include round-trip airfare, four days/three nights at the MGM Grand Signature Suites, two tickets to Cirque Du Soleil's KA, two tickets to the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and a Grand Canyon Classic West Rim Tour. Raffle tickets may be purchased for $25 each or 5 for $100 by calling the Akron Symphony office at 330-535-8131. Raffle tickets are available at most Akron Symphony events between now and May 17, and will continue being sold the evening of Fanfare. Winners do not need to be present at the drawing.
A variety of Fanfare ticket packages are available from $25 for single concert tickets to a $500 "Diamond Record Patron" package which includes the dinner and auction, prime concert seating, roundtrip V.I.P. transportation from the Radisson hotel to the Civic Theatre, and a private meet and greet with Shawn Klush and The Imperials.
Tickets are on sale now and available by calling the Akron Symphony ticket office at 330-535-8131. Single concert tickets are also available from the Akron Symphony and the Akron Civic Theatre box office.