Rob Mathes, Musical Director for Pre-Inaugural Concert

Published on January 17, 2009 by Christy Tennant

Congratulations to IAM's Rob Mathes, selected to musically direct the pre-inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial January 18!

From his web site's press release:

Greenwich resident and Grammy and Emmy nominated musician, music director, singer/songwriter, arranger, and record producer Rob Mathes is busy coordinating the musical line-up for this weekend's pre-inaugural "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial" concert scheduled for Sunday, January 18, in Washington, D.C., that is the Opening Celebration of the 56th Presidential Inaugural, which Mathes will musically direct and arrange. 

Scheduled to perform are: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Jon BonJovi, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder, with additional performers possible. The concert's executive producer is George Stevens, Jr. (The Kennedy Center Honors), and is produced by Don Mischer (Olympic Ceremonies), and directed by Michael Stevens (The American Film Institute Salutes) and is a production of The Stevens Company in association with Don Mischer Productions.

"It is so exciting to be a part of history with this inaugural concert for Barack Obama," noted Mathes, who has been working around the clock to prepare for the concert. "I have never ever in my life experienced anything like this before -- it is great and I'm enjoying every minute of it!" 

The show will be broadcast on HBO on Sunday, January 18, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT).
HBO will broadcast the show on open access, which allows those with cable or satellite to also join the opening celebration for free.

CONGRATULATIONS, ROB, FROM ALL OF US AT IAM!