St. Marys – The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum has announced a special fundraising concert with one of Canada’s greatest stars, Michael Burgess. The special one-night event will be held on Thursday December 5th at the Centre in the Square, Kitchener at 8pm with additional reservations available for a pre-concert dinner and a post-concert reception to meet Michael Burgess and baseball dignitaries including Kelly Gruber and a selection of Hall-of-Famers.

Burgess is most well known for his starring role as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, a role he performed more than 1,200 times on his way to becoming one of the greatest singing sensations that Canada has ever produced. His live performances include sold out concerts across the nation with a powerful tenor voice that was called a national treasurer by the Toronto Star.

“This is an extremely important evening for the Hall of Fame and one that we have been discussing with Michael for some time,” said Tom Valcke, President and CEO. “Few people from Canadian entertainment have had the impact of Michael Burgess in the last decade and we are delighted with his commitment to work with us. When the Canadian national anthem was sung for the first time at a World Series in 1992, it was Michael. It seems most appropriate that he headline the Hall of Fame’s first benefit concert.”

Taking the time out of a busy concert schedule was something that Michael Burgess just had to do. “I am a huge baseball fan and have had the opportunity to see the great work that the Hall of Fame is doing in St. Marys," said a charged-up Burgess. "This organization is quickly playing a more and more significant role in our sport and cultural heritage, and I am especially pleased and impressed that they have committed themselves to innovative youth education programming which uses baseball as a medium to teach social justice and plant the seeds of cultural awareness. Its broadened programming, along with the proximity of St. Marys to the Stratford Festival, now makes the Hall of Fame an ideal venue for a school field trip.”

Michael Burgess’s concert will include Broadway show classics and songs that capture the spirit of the Holiday season, which makes tickets a perfect gift. His passionate performance and stunning voice will enthral an audience of all ages.

Tickets are available beginning today at the Centre in the Square in Kitchener and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Administration office at 140 Queen St. E. in St. Marys. Tickets can also be ordered over the phone by calling the Centre In The Square at 1-800-265-8977 or 519-578-1570.

2003 SUMMER CAMPS for Boys & Girls

Week-long camps (drop off Sunday, pick-up Saturday), including accommodation & meals
Focus on baseball FUNdamentals, swimming, soccer & tennis, trip to SkyDome
Social Justice and Cultural Awareness programs incorporated
Baseball Celebrities to take part

For more information, contact:

Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum
P.O. Box 1838 (140 Queen St. E.)
St. Marys, ON, Canada, N4X 1C2
Tel: (519) 284-1838
Toll Free: 1-877-250-BALL
Fax: (519) 284-1234
Email: baseball@baseballhalloffame.ca
Website: www.baseballhalloffame.ca