Lance LaDuke and The New Malcontents: An Incomplete and Highly Biased History of the Greatest Comedy Songs Ever Written Ever

Live at Ace Hotel Pittsburgh, Wednesday, May 11, 2016 - 7:00pm

Ukulele, tuba, and drum trio Lance LaDuke & The New Malcontents will play a program titled, An Incomplete and Highly Biased History of the Greatest Comedy Songs Ever Written Ever. This laugh-out-loud evening will also feature improvisational comedy performances from members of the Arcade Comedy Theater, downtown Pittsburgh’s destination for all things comedy.

Click here to listen to Lance LaDuke talk to Classical WQED 89.3 FM's Jim Cunningham about the upcoming concert!

About The Artist: 

Lance LaDuke (ukelele) is internationally known as an educator, performer and creator. He teaches at Carnegie Mellon University as Artist Lecturer in Euphonium, Freshman Advisor and Coordinator of Special and Creative Projects. Lance teaches business, marketing and communications as part of the CMU Music Entrepreneurship Program, coaches and mentors a variety of chamber ensembles and is also Adjunct Professor of Euphonium at Duquesne University. Lance was a member of Boston Brass and the US Air Force Band in Washington DC, has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and currently plays with the River City Brass. He has taught and/or given masterclasses at some of the world’s finest conservatories, including Juilliard, the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Lance co-wrote and produced “Band Blast Off,” a highly successful band recruiting DVD and maintains an active speaking career, sharing his thoughts on practice, leadership, and self-development. His book, “Music Practice Coach, Five Workouts to Get the Most Out of  Your Practice Time!” is available through marketingvp.us or in all ebook formats and his (almost) daily practice tips on twitter can be found by following @lalaladuke. Lance is an Educational Ambassador for Jupiter Band Instruments.

Andrew Hitz (tuba) is an internationally renowned soloist, clinician and speaker having appeared in over 40 states and 30 countries including Japan, Brazil, Russia and Singapore. He recently ended a 14 year tenure as the tuba player for Boston Brass. Andrew has also appeared with the National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony and the Marine Band of Mexico. Andrew currently teaches tuba and euphonium at George Mason University and Gettysburg College. As an Educational Ambassador for Jupiter Band Instruments, he appears all over the world as both a teacher and performer. Andrew has presented at over 20 state music educator conferences and taught master classes at some of the finest music schools in the world including Juilliard, the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore. Andrew is the author of "A Band Director's Guide To Everything Tuba: A Collection of Interviews with the Experts" and is soon releasing volumes for trombone and trumpet. His latest venture, Pedal Note Media, is a digital media company founded with former Boston Brass colleague Lance LaDuke. Pedal Note Media provides products and programs to educate, entertain and inspire music teachers, players and fans. This includes the Brass Recording Project, whose goal is to record all of the world’s great brass music.  Andrew also hosts two podcasts for Pedal Note Media: "The Brass Junkies" and "The Entrepreneurial Musician."  Andrew is proud to serve on the Board of Directors for the Mockingbird Foundation, a non-profit organization which has awarded just shy of $1,000,000 in grants to help provide music education to underserved populations. Andrew lives in the Washington, DC area with his son Nicholas, his dog Izabella, and his wife Tiffany, who he thinks is the best band director in the country.
 
Rick Parsons (drums) Richard Parsons has been a member of the RCB percussion section since 1989 and has been principal since 1994. A native of Ohio, Parsons is a graduate of West Virginia University where he was a four year recipient of a Board of Regents Scholarship. While at WVU he studied percussion and music performance under Phil Faini. An active free lance musician, Rick was a member of the Wheeling Symphony for 25 years and has performed across the United States and Canada with such varied groups as Jamboree USA Staff Band, Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Ice Capades and Bob Hope. Rick and his wife Peggy have three children, KiKi, Amy & Lucas as well as three grandsons: Charlie, Ricky and Danny.
 
Arcade Comedy Theater is downtown Pittsburgh’s destination for all things comedy. The non-profit theater, opened in February 2013, is an intimate 75-seat space which hosts stand-up, improv, sketch comedy, variety acts, and more. With BYOB and video games in the lobby, the Arcade provides a fun and affordable addition to the Pittsburgh Cultural District.