Fact: Singer Josh Groban and Broadway stars Megan Hilty and Audra McDonald are among the celebrities lined up to honour late composer Marvin Hamlisch during a special New Year's Eve show, hosted by the New York Philharmonic on 31 December (12). The Big Apple event was originally due to be headlined by Hamlisch, who passed away in August (12), and now the party will serve as a celebration of his work.
Fact: Grammy winner Michael Feinstein has signed up to succeed late composer Marvin Hamlisch as the lead conductor of California's orchestra house Pasadena Pops following his death earlier this month (Aug12). He says, "It will take an enormous amount of work and study on my part to prepare. It's a delicious challenge and I'll certainly be learning along the way."
Fact: Acclaimed composer Marvin Hamlisch will be laid to rest in his native New York next week. A wake will take place on Sunday (12Aug12) and Monday (13Aug12) at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home in Manhattan, followed by a funeral at the Jewish Temple Emanu-El on Tuesday (14Aug12). The Oscar winner died in Los Angeles on Monday (06Aug12).