Collegiate Times

The Lyric theater will take its diverse audience back in time this weekend to experience an authentic “big band” ensemble.

The Old Pros band will perform a benefit concert at the Lyric on Saturday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $5, and the proceeds will be split evenly between the two non-profit organizations involved, The Lyric and the YMCA at Virginia Tech.

The band consists of musicians from various backgrounds across the New River Valley. The Old Pros plays “big band” music, which is a genre from the ‘50s and ‘60s made famous by musical greats, such as Duke Ellington.

Band member Joel Williams is a Blacksburg native who owns JSW Financial, a wealth management company that is sponsoring the event. Williams, who has served on the board of directors for The Lyric and the YMCA, said he asked Wilbur Grant, the Old Pros’ director, if the group could do a fundraiser for the two organizations. If the organizations advertised the event, then the band would play. 

Williams said he would love to see the event happen annually and get bigger over time.  The mold that made the concert come together was the relationship the organizations already had.

Susan Mattingly, executive director for The Lyric, said the organizations have done cross-promotional events, such as the Bluegrass concert to kick off the YMCA craft fair. Mattingly said the concert will bring the diversity of the community together in a quality venue.  “It (the concert) should be a great opportunity for people to hear this genre of music,” Mattingly said.

Gail Billingsley, executive director of the YMCA, highlighted the Old Pros’ extraordinary talent. She said several band members are former professionals and have fantastic resumes. 

Billingsley said she thinks the band’s talent can help bring the community together.

“This is a great family-friendly event,” she said. “It should be a nice cross section of the community.”

A version of this article appeared in the Apr 7 issue of the Collegiate Times.