United Arts inaugurates a new annual feature by naming a Presenting Artist and Artist in Residence of the Year. For 2006-2007, the Presenting Artists of the Year are the Raleigh Jazz Orchestra, and the Artist in Residence of the Year is painter Eric McRay. The Raleigh Jazz Orchestra will perform at various United Arts events throughout the year, and Eric McRay will be in residence with some of United Arts largest contributors.
[wide photo of the Raleigh Jazz Orchestra on stage posing for the photograph]
Organized in 2003,
the Raleigh Jazz Orchestra is not-for-profit professional jazz ensemble under the direction of Dr. Neal Finn. It consists of some of the Raleigh area's finest jazz musicians. Formed in collaboration with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra, the ensemble works to create professional performance opportunities for jazz musicians and to preserve and promote jazz. They perform music from the entire history of big band jazz, and feature local jazz vocalist Susan Reeves.
[various painted artwork by Eric McRay from his Web site]
Eric McRay has been exhibiting in North Carolina since 1987. In November 1998, he was juried into Raleigh's Artspace. Since opening his Artspace studio in downtown Raleigh, McRay has become one of the most exciting artists in the Triangle. Eric's work has been featured on TV and radio shows, and in numerous newspapers and magazines. The Raleigh News & Observer named him one of the "Artists to Watch" for 2001. He was featured in the June 2002 issue of Southern Living Magazine, "Carolina Living - People & Places" Edition. Also, he has consistently participated in and supported many charitable art exhibits and other community art events.