April 4, 2016
16-102

Jessica Pope
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator

VSU Performs Beatles Tribute April 11

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University will present A Tribute to the Beatles at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 11, in Whitehead Auditorium. Admission is free of charge and open to the public.

Directed by Dr. Tod J. Leavitt, a 21-member ensemble comprised of faculty and students from VSU’s Department of Music and area professional musicians will perform a selection of Beatles favorites — “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “With a Little Help from My Friends,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” “Penny Lane,” “All You Need is Love,” “When I’m 64,” “A Day in the Life,” and “In My Life.” All of the songs were written by world-famous singer-songwriters John Lennon and Paul McCartney.   

“I teach MUSC 1120: American Popular Music at VSU,” shared Leavitt, a lecturer of music. “That is the inspiration for the concert. The Beatles was my first favorite band; I began listening to them in the car on family trips as I was growing up. I chose to perform songs from 1967, the summer of love … The first record I ever purchased was The Magical Mystery Tour; John Lennon has said that was his favorite Beatles record. Also on the program are songs from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, considered to be the first rock concept album.”

A Tribute to the Beatles will last approximately 45 minutes, “about the same length as a Beatles concert … while they toured between 1964 and 1966,” Leavitt added.  

Whitehead Auditorium is located on the first floor of the VSU Fine Arts Building, at the intersection of Oak Street and Brookwood Drive.

Contact Dr. Tod J. Leavitt at tjleavitt@valdosta.edu for more information.

On the Web:

http://www.valdosta.edu/colleges/arts/music/


Valdosta State University’s 2013-2019 Strategic Plan represents a renewal of energy and commitment to the foundational principles for comprehensive institutions.

Implementation of the plan’s five goals, along with their accompanying objectives and strategies, supports VSU’s institutional mission and the University System of Georgia’s mission for comprehensive universities. 

The story above demonstrates VSU's commitment to meeting the following goals: 

Goal 1: Recruit, retain, and graduate a quality, diverse student population and prepare students for roles as leaders in a global society.

Goal 3: Promote student, employee, alumni, retiree, and community engagement in our mission.

Goal 4: Foster an environment of creativity and scholarship.

Visit http://www.valdosta.edu/administration/planning/strategic-plan.php to learn more.

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