UPMC will again present Live United in Music IV, benefiting the Lycoming County United Way, at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 18 at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport.

“Back by popular demand, the signature event of the United Way features the music of both Billy Joel and Sir Elton John, starring Michael Cavanaugh, backed by the 50-piece Live United in Pops Orchestra conducted by Walt Straiton, which first made its debut in October 2019,” a news release said. “Joining Michael on stage for this very special evening will be Uptown Music Collective alumna Tess Marshall who will be joined by local artists Mallory Scoppa Gardner and Kimbo Reichley, and Miss Central Pennsylvania Abby Traxler, who will perform our national anthem. All of our special music was arranged by a local arranger and musician, Mr. Rob Byham.”

Tickets are on sale at www.caclive.com/events/live-united-in-music-iv/ or by calling the CAC box office at 570-326-2424.

According to the news release, all proceeds benefit the Lycoming County United Way and its support of 33 community service programs in Lycoming, Sullivan, and Tioga counties.

“Named the new voice of the American Rock ‘n Roll songbook, Michael Cavanaugh was hand-picked by the Piano Man himself, Billy Joel, to star in the smash Broadway hit Movin’ Out, which was nominated for both Grammy and Tony Awards,” the news release said. “Michael began playing at age seven and formed his first band at age ten. In January of 1999, Michael received an offer that would unknowingly change his life: an opportunity to play Las Vegas at the famed New York, New York Hotel and Casino. It was there in 2001 that Billy Joel spotted Michael and joined him on stage. It only took two songs before Billy had found his new Piano Man.”

Tess Marshall was born and raised in Williamsport and grew up performing on the stage of the Community Arts Center with the Uptown Music Collective and Act Up.

Marshall “had the distinct honor of opening for Styx with her band Clyde Frog right here at the CAC,” the news release said. “Tess currently resides in New York City where she is a Dance Captain and long-running company member of the OffBroadway award-winning musical: Titanique. Along with performing eight shows a week, she also runs her voice and acting business, Tess Marshall Studio, with students in six states and three countries. She started her studio specifically to provide vocal training to students here in Williamsport.

Mallory Scoppa Gardner is a Williamsport native, an artist, musician and educator. She performs with various groups and teaches art and music in the community.

“Mallory has performed with her folk duo Whiskey Sunday for more than a decade,” the news release said. “She sings and plays various string instruments with her partner John Shively. In addition to her performances, Mallory was on the staff at the Uptown Music Collective for more than eight years as a vocal instructor and performed in many of their alumni shows.”

“Kimbo Reichley has been a strong presence on the Central Pa. Music scene for over 50 years,” the news release said. “As a young boy, his love of the great singers he heard on the radio led him to join his church and high school choirs, district chorus, and high school musicals. He started playing the guitar and then later the electric bass. He joined a band as a singer with the late George Virchick and his sister who played the Hammond organ with bass pedals. This is where he started the bass and started his real love of the blues playing the music of Rufus Thomas, Booker T, Wilson Pickett, and other blues and soul artists. Over the years he became a multi-instrumentalist playing acoustic guitar, mandolin, and resonator guitars. Kimbo has competed three times in the international blues challenge in Memphis and toured the East Coast with electric violinist Davis Rose. In 2004, he toured China playing country music as a guest of the U.S. China Foundation.”