A dazzling performance by Orchestra Long Island and Eddie Barbash

The Islip Art Council’s annual Concert in the Park returned this past Sunday, Aug. 10, after a five-year hiatus.

The fantastic performance by Orchestra Long Island, music director and conductor David Stewart Wiley, and special guest Eddie Barbash was well worth the wait.

The 46-year musical tradition commemorates two milestones this year: the 100th anniversary of New York State Parks and the 50th anniversary of the Islip Arts Council (IAC).

The pride we have in our state parks was evident upon walking through the doors of East Islip High School. An interactive display spanning an entire hallway showcased the history of New York State Parks throughout the past century.

While welcoming the crowd, executive director of the IAC Lynda Moran shared that the concert will celebrate the late Lillian Barbash, who founded the IAC 50 years ago and began the annual Concert in the Park when she first brought the New York Philharmonic to Heckscher State Park over 45 years ago.

While the concert had a five-year hiatus, Moran was approached early this year by George Gorman, Long Island regional director, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, to bring the concert back to Heckscher Park. The IAC has been planning the concert since January. Through generous sponsors and a grant from the Suffolk County Legislature, an endeavor spearheaded by Legis. Steve Flotteron, the concert was able to take place.

Despite months of planning for the concert at Heckscher, rainy weather throughout the week leading up to the concert forced the IAC to move the concert indoors. The decision was made to ensure the safety of the talented musicians and their instruments, and to keep attendees from having to sit on soggy ground. The packed auditorium indicated that no weather would be able to keep the music-loving audience from enjoying the free concert.

Attendees were blown away by the talent of Orchestra Long Island from the very start of the program. Conducted by the dignified David Stewart Wiley, Orchestra Long Island carries forward the musical legacy of the Long Island Philharmonic, providing Long Island communities with a professional orchestra that invigorates, educates, and elevates the cultural landscape. Wiley conducted with a lively vigor and precision that cannot be duplicated.

Saxophone player and special guest Eddie Barbash, grandson of Lillian Barbash, blew the crowd away with his talent.

“What you may not know is that today is Lillian Barbash’s birthday,” Moran had shared while welcoming the crowd. “When I realized what day, it was, I spoke to David Stewart Wiley, and said I really wanted to invite Eddie Barbash, Murray, and Lillian’s grandson to come and play. I am tickled pink because I have watched him play the saxophone since he was a little boy.”

Eddie Barbash proved to be a fantastic choice. His mastering of the saxophone captivated every member of the audience as he put his soul into compositions such as Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady” and George Gershwin’s “Night and Day” to pay homage to Lillian.

A unique and particularly heartwarming moment occurred when the orchestra played the “Armed Forces Salute.” Wiley instructed all veterans to stand up when they heard the official song of their branch played by the orchestra. Fellow audience members had the opportunity to give a loud round of applause for each veteran to thank them for their service.

“A Fifth of Beethoven” was a thrilling, crowd favorite of the night. 

“Beethoven’s Fifth is kind of the quintessential symphonic experience, but we are going to mix it up a little bit,” said Wiley. “After we do the finale of the Fifth, we will take a trip to the 1970s to Walter Murphy.”

Once “Finale from Symphony No. 5” was finished, the orchestra played an innovative reworking of the renowned composition. Eddie Barbash’s saxophone was the perfect fit for the funky, disco adaptation of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. To see a video of the performance, visit our Instagram page, @LIAdvance.

The Concert in the Park is just one of the seemingly endless stream of free concerts and services offered by the IAC. To learn more about the arts council, visit www.isliparts.org.