Performing Arts

Award-winning magician Jeff Grow will present his one man show, Jeff Grow: The Art of the Con, at the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center (AU PAC), 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY on Wednesday, December 1, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. His new magic show features an evening of conniving tricks that bring the audience into the magical world he creates on stage. As the winner of two 2009 Innovative Theatre Awards (IT Awards), Mr. Grow’s engaging personality and con artistry will leave audience members in a state of wonder. Regardless of whether Jeff is entertaining guests with intimate sleight of hand miracles or presenting stage magic for hundreds, he does not just puzzle his guests, but rather leaves them delighted.

Jeff Grow’s career spans from live shows in venues throughout New York City and Europe, to films and national and international commercials. His most recent production, Making Illusion, which was directed by Jessi D. Hill, received outstanding solo performer and outstanding performance art production honors from the IT Awards. In addition to performing, Mr. Grow consults on original creative content for films, commercials, and theatre. Also, Mr. Grow is frequently invited to incorporate his magic into a slew of corporate and private client’s events.

Over the last decade, schools across the nation have experienced the loss of music. The San Diego schools also had to replace music in many of its schools with other curriculum dictated by the state or federal law. The San Diego schools’ spending budget only stretches so far and, regrettably, the arts have felt the biggest hit.

Frank Glasson and the Presidio Brass are changing all of that for the San Diego schools. A trumpet player by profession, Frank is also president of Local 325 of the American Federation of Musicians and director of Presidio Brass, a brass quintet. The veteran musician has performed with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, the San Diego Opera, and San Diego’s Westwind Brass, as nicely as ensembles in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Glasson saw that music was steadily disappearing from the San Diego schools and wanted to do something about it. He believes that the constant influence of television, movies, computers and CDs could erode the senses of youth to the far more refined music. He enlisted the help of the other members of Presidio Brass — Ray Nowak, Mike McCoy, Sean Reusch, and Scott Sutherland, who play the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and tuba, respectively.