Virtual Concert
Recording from Thursday, March 31, 2022
The College is deeply grateful to all the artists who contributed performances to “Tune It Up” for their support of Colorectal Cancer Awareness!
Artists Hilary Hahn, Rufus Wainwright, Tim Reynolds, and Ben Folds headlined a musical program that included rock singer/songwriter Ben Kweller and operatic baritone Will Liverman along with a performance by The Knights with violinist Gil Shaham in a special program!
So many artists from an incredible array of musical genres donated their time and performances to support colorectal cancer awareness including the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. See a list of all the featured performers below.
For the second year, Dr. Benjamin Levy of the ACG Public Relations Committee invited musical guests for this virtual event that brought together the ACG community to focus attention on colorectal cancer screening. ACG’s goal was to tap the connection and energy that music creates to shine a light on the importance of colorectal cancer prevention!
A SOUNDTRACK FOR MARCH CRC AWARENESS MONTH
Performers
 Rufus Wainwright Singer/Songwriter/Composer |  Tim Reynolds Solo Acoustic Guitarist |  Hilary Hahn Violinist |
 Ben Folds Rock Singer/Songwriter |  Aoife O’Donovan Singer/Songwriter |  Ben Kweller Rock Singer/Songwriter |
 The Knights, ft. Conductor Eric Jacobsen & Violinist Gil Shaham |  Will Liverman Operatic Baritone |  Dave Douglas Jazz Trumpeter |
 Kerry Ellis West End/Broadway Singer |  Karen Gomyo Violinist |  John Morris Russell Conductor, Cincinnati Pops |
 Maddie Poppe Singer/Songwriter |  Ari Hest Singer/Songwriter |  Carter Faith Country Singer/Songwriter |
 Shaun Munday Bassist |  Toby Lightman Singer/Songwriter |  K.F. Jacques Hip-Hop Singer |
 Sarah Willis French Horn – Berlin Philharmonic |  Willie Jones, III Jazz Percussionist |  Oran Etkin Jazz Clarinetist |
 Hailey Whitters Country Singer/Songwriter |  Allie Moss Singer/Songwriter |  David Broza Singer/Songwriter |
 John D’earth Jazz Trumpeter |  Cincinnati Pops Orchestra |  Toronto Symphony Orchestra Orchestra |
In addition to the concert, the evening will include Special Appearances by:
Katie Couric – Cancer Advocate, Co-Founder of Stand Up To Cancer, former Anchor of NBC’s “The Today Show” and CBS “Evening News”
Jamie Bernstein – Leonard Bernstein’s daughter who is an author, narrator (has presented the New York Philharmonic’s live national radio broadcasts), and filmmaker
Emily Swallow – Actress, The Armorer in “The Mandalorian”
Stephanie Drake – Actress, Meredith in “Mad Men”
Full List of Performers
Rufus Wainwright – GRAMMY® Award Nominated Singer/Songwriter
Tim Reynolds – Solo Acoustic Guitarist, Dave Matthews Collaborator
Hilary Hahn – Three-Time GRAMMY® Award Winning Violinist
Ben Folds – Rock Singer/Songwriter and Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra
Ben Kweller – Rock Singer/Songwriter
Aoife O’Donovan – GRAMMY® Award Winning Folk Singer, performing with Eric and Colin Jacobsen
Cincinnati Pops – Featuring GRAMMY® Award Nominated Orchestra and Conductor John Morris Russell
The Knights – Performing with violinist Gil Shaham
Will Liverman – Just starred in “Fire Shut Up In My Bones” by Terence Blanchard, the first opera ever performed at the Metropolitan Opera written by a Black composer. Will’s “Dreams of a New Day” album is a 2022 Grammy Award Nominee for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
Dave Douglas – 13-time Jazz Trumpet Player of the Year in DownBeat Magazine, performing with saxophonist Joe Lovano, drummer Joey Baron, pianist Lawrence Fields, and bassist Linda May Han Oh
Kerry Ellis – West End/Broadway Singer who appeared as First British Elphaba in London’s West End “Wicked,” original cast of Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” “Miss Saigon,” and as Fantine in “Les Miserables”
Haley Whitters – Country singer who has written songs for Little Big Town, Alan Jackson, and has written with Lori McKena. GRAMMY® Award Nominated Songwriter for “A Beautiful Noise,” her collaboration with Brandi Carlile, Alicia Keys, and Brandy Clark
Karen Gomyo – Violinist who recently premiered John Adams’ Chamber Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Ari Hest – GRAMMY® Award Nominated Singer/Songwriter for his duets album with Judy Collins
Maddie Poppe – Singer/Songwriter who won “American Idol” Season #16
John D’earth – Jazz/Rock Trumpeter and Director of Jazz Performance at the University of Virginia who has performed/recorded with the Dave Matthews Band and helped with string orchestrations on DMB’s album “Before These Crowded Streets”
Willie Jones III – Jazz percussionist and adjunct professor at Northwestern who has played with vibist Milt Jackson, Sonny Rollins, Wynton Marsalis, The Dizzy Gillepsie All-Star Big Band, Bill Charlap, Michael Brecker, Herbie Hancock, and is featured on Arturo Sandoval’s Grammy-award winning album Hot House
David Broza – Internationally renowned Israeli singer-songwriter, recognized for his dynamic guitar performances and humanitarian efforts. His signature sound brings together the influence of Spanish flamenco, American folk, rock and roll, and poetry.
Angela Brower – Hailed by the New York Times for her “plush, full sound, yet also youthful brightness”, American mezzo-soprano Angela Brower is one of the most sought-after lyric mezzo-sopranos of her generation. A former member of the Bayerische Staatsoper ensemble, and alumna of their studio, she continues to bring her compelling artistry and musicianship to the world’s leading opera houses and concert venues.
K.F. Jacques – Hip-Hop Artist, Singer and Songwriter who combines hip-hop with opera
Sarah Willis – French Horn player and member of the Berlin Philharmonic
Toronto Symphony Orchestra – GRAMMY® Award Winning Orchestra
Toby Lightman – Singer/Songwriter whose single “My Sweet Song” was featured in the movie P.S., I Love You
Allie Moss – Singer/Songwriter who performs guitar and sings in Ingrid Michaelson’s band
Oran Etkin – Grammy nominated Jazz Clarinetist
Another Michael – Rock Band from Philadelphia
Floatie – Rock Band from Chicago
Carter Faith – Country Singer/Songwriter
Katie Pruitt – Alternative country/rock singer-songwriter based in Nashville
Samantha Clarke – Australian/British soprano vocalist
Shaun Munday – Bassist who has performed with John Mayer, The Wailers (Bob Marley’s band), and Mary Wilson of The Supremes
Mathilda Edge – Soprano at Lyric Opera of Chicago
Davis Senior High School Baroque Ensemble – Students from Davis Senior High School in Davis, CA, with guest violinist Ronald Hsu, MD, FACG, ACG’s Governor for Northern California
The Beacons – Band of ACG Gastroenterologists Daniel J. Pambianco, MD, FACG; Samir A. Shah, MD, FACG; Costas H. Kefalas, MD, MMM, FACG; Patrick E. Young, MD, FACG and John R. Saltzman, MD, FACG
Special Message from Katie Couric
A Message from Katie Couric to Colorectal Cancer Screening Champions and ACG
Concert Director: Benjamin Levy, MD
Benjamin Levy, MD, is a board-certified Gastroenterologist at the University of Chicago. His clinical projects focus on health care disparities and the development of colon cancer screening campaigns. Previously as Division Head of Gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Levy organized a Gastroenterology clinic for refugees resettling in Chicago. Dr. Levy is a member of ACG’s Public Relations Committee and FDA-Related Matters Committee.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Levy started an international health education campaign named “Concerts & Cocktails” that teamed up musicians with physicians and nurses on the front lines. Dr. Levy was subsequently selected to be a TEDx speaker @TEDxWrigleyville – “Humanity: An Inside View of the Pandemic.” An avid cellist, Dr. Levy recently served as co-chair of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Soundpost Series.
Special Thanks
Ms. Katie Couric
The Noise Company
Greenleaf Music
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen, Denmark
Philharmonic Society of Orange County
Rishi Productions
PianoForte Chicago
Samir A. Shah, MD, FACG, ACG President
David A. Greenwald, MD, FACG, ACG Past President
Irving M. Pike, MD, FACG, ACG Past President
Tauseef Ali, MD, FACG, Chair ACG Public Relations Committee
ACG Public Relations Committee
About Colorectal Cancer Screening
In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer, yet it is one of the most preventable types of cancer. It is highly treatable and is often curable when caught early. Even during COVID-19, colorectal cancer screening is essential and should not be delayed.
Screening colonoscopy can find growths in the colon called polyps so they can be removed before they turn into colorectal cancer. During the pandemic, patients are urged to not put off needed health care, especially preventive tests.
The most common symptom of early colon and rectal cancers is NO symptom, so it is important to get screened. No matter what your age, never ignore new or worrying bowel symptoms.
ACG’s message for March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: You can prevent colorectal cancer. Don’t let COVID-19 stop you!
Learn More
Listen to the 2021 Tune It Up Recording
How to Watch
Click on the Vimeo viewer above to watch the webstream concert.
Listen to the 2021 Tune It Up Concert with Rock Musicians Rufus Wainwright, Lisa Loeb, Tim Reynolds and Others Performed for this Free Virtual Concert for Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Last year, the American College of Gastroenterology was proud to host a webstream event, “Tune It Up: A Concert To Raise Awareness of Colorectal Cancer,” on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 featuring dynamic performances by a talented collective of musicians. You can still enjoy the recording!
The virtual concert organized by Dr. Benjamin Levy of the ACG Public Relations Committee included messages from celebrity cancer advocate Katie Couric and performances by notable stars such as GRAMMY® Award winning singer/songwriter Lisa Loeb, along with a group of musicians from a wide range of genres who all donated their time and performances to support colorectal cancer awareness efforts.
ACG’s goal was to tap the connection and energy that music creates to shine a light on the importance of colorectal cancer screening and prevention.