Quartet To Perform Outdoor Evening Concert

Asked what she would like audiences to feel after hearing her eponymous quartet, Robin Work replied, "I think I would like people to leave with a lighter heart and a smile on their faces having experienced an hour of good classic music with a message of hope."

Work will bring the Robin Work Quartet to the Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz, to perform an outdoor concert on Thursday, Aug. 25, at 6:30 p.m. The band's repertoire will include songs from the Great American Songbook, along with the music of the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and more.

Work grew up in in Manheim Township in a music-loving family that encouraged her love of singing. She began piano lessons at age 5 and took part in musical groups and shows in school. While she was working at a local hotel, members of a band asked her to join them on stage. The event led to her involvement with the Bobby Marshall Road Show based in Reading. Work traveled with show and dance bands, performing in Florida, Iowa, and Quebec. She also loved acting, performing at the Rainbow Dinner Theatre and with Jeff Raught and Friends.

The Robin Work Quartet was born when Work was offered a last-minute gig in the northeastern part of the county. "All the guys I normally call were busy," recalled Work, who reached out to a musician in that area for help. He suggested Tony Miceli, an internationally renowned jazz vibraphonist. "I had never worked with a vibraphonist before," said Work, who referred to Miceli as a down-to-earth musician who plays and teaches in Ireland, Germany, South Korea, and Italy. He is co-creator of the World Vibes Congress, which brings public awareness to the vibraphone.

The quartet also includes Jeff Stabley, known for directing the York College Jazz Ensemble and Groove Ensemble. Stabley drums with a number of bands and plays keyboard with a hip-hop jazz group. He has been artistic director for "Jazz in the City" in York for eight years, and he has been inducted into the York City Hall of Fame.

Like Work, bass player Steve Meashey comes from a musical family. Meashey has been an avid recording artist, and he is featured on a compact disc by drummer Joe Hunt's trio. Meashey is currently bassist for the Harrisburg Jazz Collective.

Work refers to her collaborators as "the phenomenal musicians I am blessed to work with."

Known for her crowd-pleasing, deep, rich voice, Work likes to include songs that attendees might not recognize along with musical favorites, such as "Just in Time" and "World on a String." One of the songs she includes that is less well known is "Here's to Life." "I always look to tell a little story about the songs," said Work, who noted the background of "Here's to Life" offers a story especially pertinent for those who are middle aged or older. "Maybe audience members will hear a song they didn't know or learn a story they haven't heard," she noted.

The concert is free and open to the public. Attendees should bring their own chairs or blankets. Preregistration is required. Readers may register to attend at http://www.lititzlibrary.org or by calling 717-626-2255.