Tony Bennett, Julie Andrews, Dave Koz, Monica Mancini & Patrick Williams Join to Celebrate the Henry Mancini Institute's 10th Anniversary on June 17

Tony Bennett, Julie Andrews, Dave Koz, Monica Mancini & Patrick Williams Join to Celebrate the Henry Mancini Institute's 10th Anniversary on June 17

Ginny Mancini and John Williams Honored at HMI Concert and Gala Celebration at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 3,000 people will gather tonight at the Kodak Theatre for the Henry Mancini Institute's (HMI) largest fundraiser, a concert and gala dinner celebrating the Institute's 10th Anniversary. The concert stars 13-time GRAMMY(R)-winner Tony Bennett, the HMI Orchestra and special guest artists Monica Mancini, John Williams, and Dave Koz, who will host the exclusive event.

Honorary guests include HMI President and co-founder, Ginny Mancini, who will receive the Institute's Legacy Award for her visionary leadership in music education. Julie Andrews will present her with the Legacy Award. Academy Award(R)-winning film composer John Williams will be honored with the esteemed Hank Award for his distinguished contribution to American music, a tribute of excellence previously presented to entertainment greats such as Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach and Clint Eastwood. The Hank Award will be presented by GRAMMY(R)-Award winning HMI Artistic Director, Patrick Williams, who will lead the HMI Orchestra.

"Henry was committed to excellence in both music and music education, and tonight we are keeping his spirit and dream alive," said Ginny Mancini, wife of the late Henry Mancini. "We are thrilled to celebrate a decade of success in music education and to raise the funds necessary for further securing the Henry Mancini Institute's place as an internationally recognized music institute through the next decade and beyond."

The evening will kick off at 7:00pm with award-winning Mancini classics such as "The Theme from The Pink Panther" and "Two For The Road," featuring the HMI Orchestra, Dave Koz, Monica Mancini, Yue Deng and others. John Williams will conduct the Orchestra in a memorable performance of "Sayuri's Theme" from Memoirs of a Geisha. The legendary Tony Bennett will then join the Orchestra with Pianist Lee Musiker, Bassist Paul Langosch, Guitarist Gray Sargent and Drummer Harold Jones for an hour of top hits including "The Best Is Yet To Come," "The Shadow Of Your Smile," "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" and "They Can't Take That Away From Me."

The exclusive post-concert Gala will begin approximately at 9:00pm in the chic Hollywood and Highland Annex with dinner catered by Wolfgang Puck. Expected special guests include Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Cyd Charise, George Slatter, Barbara Sinatra and Tony Martin, among others.

The Henry Mancini Institute's 10th Anniversary Concert and Gala Celebration sponsors, benefactors and founders include Helen Bing, ASCAP, BMI, Betty & Fred Hayman, Marty Albertson, Joni Berry, David Bohnett & Tom Gregory, Lisa Kirk Colburn, Sandra Krause & William Fitzgerald, Mo Ostin, Sally & Frank Raab, Michael Shapiro, Harlyne J. Norris and Universal Music Publishing Group.

About the Henry Mancini Institute:

Founded in 1997, the HMI nurtures the future of music through year-round, in-school concert and teaching programs, professional training and mentorships, and free community concerts. Supported primarily by individual donors, the Henry Mancini Institute is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization that welcomes all who are interested in sharing and promoting the joy of music. For further information, please call 888-HMI-1903 or visit www.manciniinstitute.org

Source: The Henry Mancini Institute

CONTACT: Rachael Friedman, rfriedman@kaplancommunications.com, or
Carline Kaplan, both of Kaplan Communications Inc., +1-310-397-9025, or cell,
+1-323-350-4806, for The Henry Mancini Institute

Web site: http://www.manciniistitute.org/

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