Maine singers and musicians to take center stage when Joan Rivers comes to Merrill Auditorium

PORTLAND — Portland Ovations has announced that Maine artists will play a major role when Portland Ovations brings the uncensored comedienne Joan Rivers to Merrill Auditorium at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, for an outrageous and hilarious evening of comedy.

Opening the evening for Joan Rivers is a group of four male singers calling themselves “The Joan Rangers” lead by University of Southern Maine School of Music’s Ed Reichert. “The Joan Rangers” are comprised of Jeremiah Haley, Derrick Jaques, Jimmy McDonald, Joey Valliere and Ed Reichert.

Each singer is excited to return to where their passion for the arts were first peaked, Maine. All of them are graduates of USM’s School of Music and now work and live in New York City chasing their performance dreams. “The Joan Rangers” promise to warm the stage and audience perfectly for the incomparable Rivers performing some fun, sassy and sensational musical theater selections for the Portland crowd.

Taking the stage with and backing Rivers as she tells it like it is and entertains the audience with her own brand of uninhibited, uncensored comedy will be a band of five local musicians; Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Southern Maine, Dr. Chris Oberholtzer on trombone, Barry Saunders on saxophone, Thomas Snow on piano, Jim Lyden on bass and Brad Ciechomski on drums.

Most are members of the Portland Jazz Orchestra and teach music technique and education throughout Maine from Yarmouth to Bates College and USM. All have performed with notable musicians and ensembles throughout their careers and have a diverse musical background. The band is excited to share the spotlight with such a legend in the entertainment business and punctuate the evening for the local audience.

Tickets for Joan Rivers LIVE range from $41 to $63 for Portland Ovations members and $45 to $70 for the general public. Note: Adult language and humor, material may be offensive to some. For tickets, visit www.portlandovations.org, contact 207-842-0800 or visit the box office window at Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St.

Bios for “The Joan Rangers” and the local musicians follow:

“The Joan Rangers” – Bios:

Ed Reichert (Director/Pianist) has been on the USM faculty in the School of Music since 2001 as their Musical Theater Vocal Coach/Director. Originally from Ohio, he moved to NYC when he was 18 to attend the Aaron Copland School of Music (Queens College/CUNY). His credits there include numerous Off Broadway plays, musicals, operas, concert appearances and cabaret venues. Highlights since moving to Maine in 1987: musical director/conductor for productions at Walnut Street Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Fulton Opera House, Flat Rock Playhouse, Seacoast Rep, Portland Stage Co., Maine State Music Theatre (22 seasons), Arundel Barn Playhouse, Florida Repertory Theatre, and The Pirate Playhouse; producing the critically acclaimed Songbook Series at the Portland Museum of Art; conducting the Portland Symphony Orchestra in a concert version of Evita starring Andrea McArdle and Adrian Zmed; his work with TONY Award winning composer Maury Yeston; and his numerous collaborations with vocalist Marie Pressman. Ed has been a guest instructor and director at the University of New Hampshire (Durham), St. Joseph’s College, and Sacramento State University. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and has appeared onstage as “Manny” in productions of Master Class opposite Lucie Arnaz and Rosemary Prinz. Ed recently directed the Maine Premiere of CARRIE The Musical at USM. He has purchased way too many pieces of Joan’s jewelry from QVC for his mother Lillian thru the years; and is very proud of all of his current and former students’ accomplishments. Sto lat!

Jeremiah Haley is a graduate from the University of Southern Maine School of Music and is currently living in New York City to pursue his dreams as a performer. He began to develop a passion for the arts while attending Deering High School in Portland, Maine. Some of his favorite USM credits include: Burrs in Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party, Mitch Mahoney in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Hines in The Pajama Game, and George in The Drowsy Chaperone. Jeremiah placed first in his division at both the Maine and Boston NATS Musical Theater competitions. He is no stranger to the Merrill Auditorium stage – having performed as a soloist with the Portland Symphony, and in the ensemble of The Best of Broadway. Jeremiah’s professional credits include: several productions at Maine State Music Theatre (Rent, Annie, The Wiz, Spring Awakening, Hair, and Dreamgirls – co-production with The Fulton in Lancaster, PA); Marcellus, Music Man; Schroeder, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; and Agwe in Once On This Island (Boothbay Playhouse).

Derrick Jaques, from Windham, Maine, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Southern Maine with a degree from the School of Music in Musical Theatre. Favorite USM credits include: Bobby, Urinetown; Barrett, Titanic; Sammy, Blood Brothers; and Gash, Last Easter. He was also a member of the Chamber Singers. While in college he landed his first professional job, a performance internship at Maine State Music Theatre. Derrick has spent the past two summers as a resident company member at the Mac-Haydn Theatre in upstate New York where he played Chantal, La Cage aux Folles; Fuilly, Les Miserables; Mr. Sowerberry, Oliver; Joe, 9 to 5; Kyle, Legally Blonde; Bellomy, The Fantasticks among others. Regional favorites: Mary Sunshine, Chicago

(CA); Al, A Chorus Line; Cable, South Pacific; Jesus, Godspell; Frid, A Little Night Music. Derrick resides in NYC and is a hot yoga instructor. He has loved teaching his students at Bikram Yoga Harlem since 2010. He hopes to receive a personal training certification in the future.

Jimmy McDonald is a 2013 graduate of the University of Southern Maine School of Music now residing in New York City. After being there only a short time he got the opportunity to appear as “Woof/Margaret Mead” (Hair) at the SOOP Theatre. Regional credits include “LA” (Gypsy); “Woof” (Hair); “Ernst” (Spring Awakening) at Maine State Music Theatre; “Dr. Scott” (Rocky Horror Picture Show); “Mike” (White Christmas); “Custus/Moose” (Crazy for You) at The Arundel Barn Playhouse. A few favorite roles from USM include “Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald” (Assassins); “Robert” (The Drowsy Chaperone); “Phil d’Armano” (Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party); and “Panch” (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee). Jimmy is a multiple 1st Place winner at both the Boston and Maine NATS Musical Theater voice competitions. He LOVES LOVES LOVES Joan Rivers!

Joey Vallliere is elated to come back (for one night only) to the place where it all started, Maine! Joey grew up in Old Orchard Beach, studied Musical Theatre from the School of Music at the University of Southern Maine, and then moved to the big apple to pursue his career. He has worked in such regional theaters as The Ogunquit Playhouse, Maine State Music Theatre, The Arundel Barn Playhouse, and Mt. Washington Valley Theatre Company. Favorite roles include Gordon in A New Brain, Chip in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Bobby Strong in Urinetown, Fleet in Titanic, and Matt in The Fantasticks. Joey currently lives in NYC with his long-time partner, where you can find him working on a demo of original music, dancing to Beyonce songs on YouTube, and teaching the children of such famous people like Kathleen Marshall, Kelli O’Hara, Laurence Fishburne, and Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel. He also writes TV reviews, which you can find here: boombazookareviews.com.

Local Musicians Bios:

Chris Oberholtzer – Trombone

Dr. Christopher Oberholtzer, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Southern Maine, completed his Doctor of Arts degree in Trombone Performance/Pedagogy with a Secondary Emphasis in Jazz Pedagogy at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. Chris earned his Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies with a Cognate Field of Trombone Performance from Indiana University, Bloomington, and his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine, Gorham.

As a professor and director of jazz studies at USM, Chris leads a thriving program which is recognized as being one of the leading college jazz programs in New England. In addition to his USM teaching responsibilities, Chris also enjoys actively serving throughout the country as a guest artist, director and/or clinician for numerous high school and college jazz ensembles, including All-State and Honors Festivals in Colorado,Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.Other major appearances include those at universities such as the University of Northern Colorado, Brevard College (North Carolina), Ball State University, Eastern Washington University and Utah State University. Chris’ performance credits also include international festivals such as the (Newport) JVC Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival.

Chris maintains a busy schedule as a professional freelance trombonist. He has performed, toured and recorded throughout the country and abroad with many groups in varying classical, jazz and commercial genres. His playing experience includes touring with the Artie Shaw Orchestra, the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Ringling Brothers Circus, Toni Tenille the Capitol Center Jazz Orchestra and Holland America cruise lines. Other performing credits include working with artists such as Tony Bennett, Claudio Roditi, Wayne Bergeron, the New York Voices, Conrad Herwig, Brian Lynch, Byron Stripling, Phil Wilson, Wycliff Gordon, Ronie Cuber, Frank Wess, Bob Mintzer, Herb Pomeroy, Richie Cole, Dick Johnson, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, the Benny Goodman Orchestra, Aaron Neville, Roberta Flack and the Temptations.

Serving as Musical Director of the Portland Jazz Orchestra, Chris is quite busy with the details of leading a regionally active big band. The Portland Jazz Orchestra is a contemporary big band staffed by jazz professionals, many of whom are also music educators, from the northern New England area. Playing music from the classic libraries of the Count Basie Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra and the Woody Herman Orchestra, the PJO also enjoys performing more contemporary big band literature from prominent writers such as Gordon Goodwin, Ton Kubis and Maria Schneider. In addition, the PJO focuses on performing original compositions and arrangements written by its own band members. Many of these compositions are published and are highly regarded on a national level.

As a clinician for the United Musical Instrument/Selmer Corporation, Chris performs on Bach trombones.

Barry Saunders – Saxophone

Saxophonist, clarinetist and composer, Barry Saunders has played clubs, festivals and concerts throughout the United States, with some dates in Europe and Asia. He has had the privilege to work with such notable musicians and ensembles as Conte Condoli, Pete Christlieb, OK|OK, Michael McGinnis, Stew & TNP, Brad Terry, Erik Deutsch, Clark Terry, Barry Manilow, Three Dog Night, Portland Jazz Orchestra, Fogcutters Big Band, Portland (Maine) Symphony Orchestra and the New Hampshire Music Festival Symphony Orchestra.

Barry?s work has been featured on the award winning Maine Public Radio news program “Maine Things Considered”, and the notable “207”, on WCSH6. More recently, he could be heard on “Spinning on Air with David Garland” from the studios of WNYC. Barry can also be heard on Erik Deutsch?s CD “Hush Money” (hammerandstring.com) and Mike McGinnis?s CD “Road*trip” (mikemcginnis.com). Keep an eye out for Barry?s first solo CD to be recorded Fall 2013.

Prior to his teaching at the School of Music at USM and Bates College, Barry has taughtat Bennington College, Williams College, and 14 years of public school. He alsocurrently enjoys a thriving private studio where he teaches, saxophone, clarinet,improvisation and composition.

Thomas Snow – Piano

Maine-based pianist Thomas Snow has performed with many jazz

luminaries such as Harry Allen, Jeff Coffin, Dave Holland, Ken Peplowski, Larry Coryell, Nick Brignola, Phil Wilson, and Herb Pomeroy. In the pop world, Tom has also played and recorded with many artists including The Motor Booty Affair, bluesman Troy Turner, Jonathan Edwards, and celebrated singer/songwriter Gene

McDaniels. In addition to appearing on dozens of recordings, his own CD releases are “Northern Standard Time” (1997), “Christmas at Mast Cove” (2001), “Some Other Time” (2007), and his newest CD “Friends” (2013). Tom has degrees from Berklee College of Music (B.M., 1991) and the New England Conservatory of Music (M.M., 2005).

Aside from his performing and writing career, Tom is a Lecturer in Music at Bates College and tours frequently with singer/songwriter Jonathan Edwards. To find out more, visit www.tomsnow.com.

Jim Lyden – Bass

A native of Portland, Maine, bassist Jim Lyden has been performing for over 45 years. He has studied with both classical and jazz bassists. Jim’s grandfather, Henry C. Cook, who played violin and french horn, was one of the founding members (1923) of the now named Portland Symphony Orchestra. Much experience was gained early on playing with blues, funk, rock, and jazz groups in countless varied venues in Northern New England. A chameleon approach to each musical moment over the years has paved the way to a busy performing schedule. Freelance work as a sideman has led Jim to perform with many great local musicians. Jim has recorded with Bobby Watson, Tiger Okoshi,and performed with John LaPorta, Roswell Rudd, Herb Pomeroy, Oliver Lake, Don Doane, Frank Foster, Jackie King and Curtis Clark, to name a few. He can be heard on several jazz and folk recordings. Jim currently performs with the Portland Jazz Orchestra, Curtis Clark, Thomas Snow, The East Enders, River City Jazz, O’Dell’Langley Quartet, Barbara London, Dos Eckes, Saco River Theatre. www.facebook.com/jim.lyden

Brad Ciechomski – Drums

Brad began playing drums about the time he started school. His playing has taken him all over the North East and sharing the stage with local, regional and national artists. Brad has appeared on stage with jazz great such as Clark Terry, Mel Torme, Bob Mintzer, The Sammy Kaye Orchestra, The New York Voices, and Wayne Bergeron, Conrad Herwig, Jazz trumpeters Greg Hopkins and jazz legend John Faddis. Brad has even rocked out with David Crosby of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, as well as performing for President Bush and the first family just to name a few.

Brad began his professional playing career at the age of fourteen. Since then, he has continues to evolve and develop as one of the first call drummers in New England. Often traveling out of his native state of Maine, Brad holds down a busy playing schedule in and out of the Greater Boston Area.

Comfortable in many genres of music Brad is equally at home driving the “Portland Jazz Orchestra”, Maine’s premiere Big Band, or grooving on rock and soul tunes with Maine’s own “Tony Boffa Band.” From swing to soul, and all styles in between, Brad loves playing all styles of music.

Additionally, Brad composed music for Jazz bands and concert bands. His compositions have been played by bands of all levels, from beginners to college bands to professional bands. Each year, Brad enjoys receiving commissions to compose for school bands (from middle school to college wind ensembles). He is published by Alfred, FJH, Kendor, Kjos and Jalen music publishers and currently has eighteen published works.

An experienced music educator, Brad has taught in Yarmouth, Maine for the last 22 years where he teaches four concert bands and three jazz bands. As a Vic Firth endorsed educator, Brad exclusively plays Vic Firth drum sticks.

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