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Gabriel will attend the premiere and perform “Staring Ceilings” to open the concert, which begins at 7 p.m.
The video will play continuously until concert time and the public is invited to watch. Concert tickets will also be sold that night for $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.
Kathy Kern Ross, Gabriel’s agent and president of Kaleidoscope Entertainment Inc., is excited to have the video finally released.
“The footage is amazing,” she said. “I hope the citizens of Springfield will like the way it showcases the city.”
Kern Ross suggested Springfield as a shooting location after moving here the previous year. Local sites captured include Veteran’s Park, Snyder Park, the Springfield Museum of Art, building rooftops and fountains.
Also appearing in it are participating members from the Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestra, Springfield Symphony Chorale, Springfield Symphony’s Children’s Chorus and the Springfield Arts Council’s Youth Arts Ambassadors.
Many of these artists will help back Gabriel when he performs “Staring Ceilings.”
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A wealth of local talent behind the scenes helped create the video, including director Rod Hatfield, as well as cinematography and editing by Brian Traylor and still photography from Rick Wait.
The video cost around $5,000 to make, according to Kern Ross, raised by crowd sourcing and from private donors. With a lot of footage, it’s taken several months to edit but she’s confident it was worth the wait.
“Michael hasn’t even seen it,” Kern Ross said. “He’s so pleased how everybody pulled together and would love to do another video in Springfield. This is his way to show his appreciation.”
Lou Ross, executive director of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and spouse of Kern Ross, said the planets aligned for it all to work out.
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“We were already having the Smarelli Scholarship Concert on Monday. It seemed to make sense to tie a live performance of ‘Staring Ceilings’ together with the video release with all of the parties present,” he said. “It should be fun for all of us.”
Ross added he would love for people who want to see the video to stay and buy tickets to see the talent the youth orchestras and chorus offer. The video will play after the concert as well.
“We’re excited for the people to see it and grateful for everybody who helped,” said Kern Ross.
The song "Staring Ceilings" is available on iTunes and other online music vendors along with the Gabriel's EP "Alabama Sky." The video will available on Youtube at http://michaelgabrielmusic.com/home/home.html after the premiere.
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