DFT Communications to sponsor Pops Series

DFT Communications President and CTO Kurt Maytum, left, presents a sponsorship check to Rockefeller Arts Center Director Jefferson Westwood and Tim Murphy, Director of Development for the Fredonia College Foundation. DFT Communications has made a three-year commitment to sponsor the DFT Communications Pops Series at Rockefeller Arts Center.

DFT Communications, headquartered in Fredonia, is significantly increasing its annual financial support of programming at Rockefeller Arts Center by sponsoring the entire 2007-08 Pops Concert Series. The communications company has made a three-year commitment to sponsor what will now be known as the DFT Communications Pops Series.

“Becoming the sponsor for the Pops Series seemed like a natural extension of DFT’s long-standing tradition of supporting both the arts and SUNY Fredonia,” DFT Communications President and COO Mark Maytum said. “We’re pleased that Rockefeller Arts Center approached us with such a wonderful opportunity.”
Rockefeller Arts Center Director Jefferson Westwood said DFT Communications has long been a strong supporter of the center, serving as the Christmas pops concert sponsor for many years.

“It’s wonderful to welcome DFT Communications as the sponsor of Rockefeller Arts Center’s flagship series,” Westwood said. “The company and its founding family, the Maytums, have been very good friends to SUNY Fredonia for as long as anyone can remember. DFT Communications does a lot of great things for the community, and we’re very grateful the company has chosen to add the Pops Series to the activities it supports. With DFT’s help, we will be able to do even better programming in the future.”

The series, previously known as the Someplace Special Pops Series, features a mix of light classics, jazz, Dixieland and show tunes. It includes the annual Commencement Eve Concert with graduating senior vocal soloists. Artists who have appeared in the series include Roger Williams, Dave Brubeck, the Boston Brass and The Three Irish Tenors.

The 2007-08 DFT Communications Pops Series will feature three concerts, all of which will be held in King Concert Hall with 8 p.m. show times. The concerts will include:  

• The Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber on Friday, Nov. 2. When it comes to penning epic Broadway show tunes, few can match the flair of Andrew Lloyd Webber. His songs have propelled legendary shows from “Phantom of the Opera” to “Evita” to “Cats.” Some of Webber’s greatest tunes from these shows and more will come to life on the stage of King Concert Hall courtesy of the professional singers from The Best of Broadway, many of whom have had leading roles in Webber’s shows. 
• Christmas with the Kingston Trio on Thursday, Dec.13. The vibrant folk sound of one of America’s most beloved musical groups will fill King Concert Hall this holiday season. Armed with a catalogue of songs that sound as good today as they did the first heard time people heard them, the Kingston Trio continues to enjoy unprecedented popularity. The trio emerged from San Francisco’s North Beach club scene in 1957 to take the country by storm and continues to tour 30 weeks a year due to its overwhelming popularity.
   
• Commencement Eve Pops: Big Band Classics on Friday, May 16. Accompanied by the Little Apple Big Band under the direction of Bruce Johnston, some of SUNY Fredonia’s best vocal students will perform Big Band classics during one of the year’s most anticipated entertainment events. Tunes from Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, the Andrews Sisters and others will take center stage.

“We believe that access to a wide variety of arts programming is one of the things that makes this community so special,” said DFT Communications President and CTO Kurt Maytum. “We’re very proud to be a part of this amazing arts center as the sponsor of the Pops Series.”

DFT Communications has been providing the best in communication services for more than 109 years. The company offers local and long distance telephone service, business telephone systems, Internet service, Internet phone service, security systems, satellite service, wireless communications and call center services to Western New York and portions of Pennsylvania.

The DFT Communications Pops Series is one of several season ticket packages available at Rockefeller Arts Center. The season-wide sponsor for the 2007-08 performing arts season at Rockefeller Arts Center is Lake Shore Savings Bank. Season ticket information is available by calling 716-673-3501 or toll free at 1-866-441-4928.