Music From The Heart: A Concert To Benefit Educator and Musician Phil Verrill

When: Sunday, March 12, 2000 at 2:00pm

Where: South Portland Church of the Nazarene, 525 Highland Avenue, South Portland, ME (corner of Highland and Nutter near South Portland High School)

Admission: Suggested donation of $20.00, however we invite you to give more if you can

Featured artists: The Chris Neville Ensemble, The Mark Kleinhaut Quartet, Don Doane and the Super Senior Sextet, The Tim Hill Fusion Ensemble, The Brad Terry Group (Note: Additions and changes to the program TBA)

FMI: Call Thomas Snow Entertainment at (207) 846-1173 or keep checking this site periodically for further updates

Advance tickets: Advance general admission tickets may be purchased after Feb 28^th at the following locations: Starbird Music, 525 Forest Ave, Portland, (207) 775-2733; CD Authority, Mill Creek, South Portland, (207) 799-9833; Amadeus, 332 Fore Street, Portland, (207) 772-8416; MacBeans, 141 Maine Street, Brunswick, (207) 729-6513

Tickets may also be purchased by sending payment/donation to:

For secure online ordering of advance tickets through Invisible Music, click here.

Also, click here for directions to the concert venue.

Press Release–Music From The Heart: A Concert To Benefit Educator and Musician Phil Verrill

On December 2, 1999, drummer and educator Phil Verrill suffered a stroke. This very sudden and tragic incident happened to this healthy man in his early forties with no warning. Although not a "household" name, Phil has been an educator and musician for twenty years and has positively influenced hundreds of musicians. His immeasurable impact on aspiring drummers and percussionists can be seen throughout schools in Southern Maine as well as at international competitions with his group "The Southern Maine Youth Percussion Ensemble."

Phil has been active in the Maine music scene for over twenty years performing, recording and touring with local and national musicians. Phil studied percussion with greats Alan Dawson, Dom Moio and Bernard Purdie. Throughout his years of performing, he has played gigs from Maine to California and has been featured with national greats Dizzy Gillespie, Lenny Breau and Chris Neville. His local work has transcended musical styles and he has shared musical stages with such regional notables as Don Doane, Brad Terry, Gil Donatelli, Thomas Snow, Port City All Stars and The New England Electric Quintet, to name just a few.

Unfortunately, no medical insurance at the time of this incident coupled with catastrophic medical costs have left his family in dire financial straits. The purpose of this concert is two-fold: first,  to show Phil that we as a community of friends and musicians are here to support him, and; second,  to generate a gift of revenue that will help his family through this financial challenge. The concert will feature some of the top musicians from the Northern New England area including Chris Neville, Brad Terry, Don Doane, Gary Richardson, Thomas Snow and more.

Presently, Phil grows stronger daily and has resumed a light teaching schedule. Eventually, his hopes are to return to gigging and also to resume   giving concerts and clinics. Please help support this benefit concert and show your concern to a person who has given two decades of musical artistry and expertise to generations of aspiring musicians.