NYC Gazette

St. John’s University will expand its annual Great Lawn Summer Concert series by hosting two additional public performances on its Queens, NY campus. Alongside the traditional summer performance of the Queens Symphony Orchestra (QSO) on Tuesday, August 6, the university will feature the White Wedding Band on Sunday, June 30 at 4 p.m., and the Richmond County Orchestra on Sunday, July 21 at 4 p.m. The QSO's performance is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

All concerts are set to take place on the Great Lawn but will be moved indoors to The Little Theatre in case of inclement weather. The events are sponsored jointly by St. John’s Office of Community Relations and Office of Alumni Relations.

The Great Lawn Summer Concert has been a fixture at St. John’s since 1998, attracting patrons who bring lawn chairs, blankets, and snacks to enjoy an evening of music as the sun sets.

The Queens Symphony Orchestra is noted as the only professional orchestra in Queens and stands as the oldest and largest performing arts institution in the borough. Music Director Martin Majkut described their annual performance at St. John’s as “the highlight of the orchestra’s summer season.” This year marks their 24th appearance at St. John’s.

In contrast, this will be the debut performance for the Richmond County Orchestra on the Queens campus. Established in 1998, it has fostered a new generation of classical music enthusiasts on Staten Island.

The six-piece White Wedding Band is known for covering hits from artists such as Duran Duran, Billy Joel, Stevie Nicks, U2, and Billy Idol—the inspiration behind their name coming from Idol's hit "White Wedding."

“We think the White Wedding Band will be a fun addition that appeals to a wide audience,” Dr. Munoz said. “The Richmond County Orchestra highlights our continuing relationship with Staten Island and brings something from that borough to the Queens campus. We also love working with the QSO and are excited for them to give the final performance of the summer series.”