Main Stage
Tickets $50
plus $3 processing fee per ticket
Outside Presenter
About the Show
Join powerhouse vocalist Chris Pinnella (formerly of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra) as he returns to The Grunin Center for a one night only performance in support of The Hope Center’s 3rd Annual “Hope Rises Concert.”
The evening will feature Pinnella’s stellar 9-Piece Band playing through some of Billy Joel and Elton John’s Biggest Hits, Live Favorites, and B-Sides. From Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, Zanzibar, Movin’ Out, and Big Shot to Tiny Dancer, I’m Still Standing, Rocket Man, Your Song, and so many more. This show will have the audience singing along all night!
“Pinnella delivers with rock n’ roll good looks and stunning vocals.” (New England Music News)
“Pinnella has the pipes to deliver the sincerity of each lyric in all its glory.” (Tri-City News)
About Chris Pinnella
Ask any vocal artist you happen to see, and they will tell you it takes a certain kind of guts and gumption to step out in front of the freight train that is a symphony orchestra or sizable jazz organization — to take the helm of a precision music machine whose hundreds of man hours of rehearsal and preparation now hinge upon that solitary figure at center stage. Sounds pretty scary — but for Chris Pinnella it’s the stuff of natural habitat; an environment that the versatile vocalist has thrived in, whether performing with symphony orchestras around the country, leading his own combos of anywhere from 8 to 15 players, or (for several tours of North America and Europe) lending his finely honed skills to the prog-rock / crossover locomotive known as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. That association with the late Paul O’Neil’s spectacularly scaled project netted the New Jersey native a platinum record for his contributions to “The Lost Christmas Eve” tour, and a chance to perform for an audience of over 1 million people, during a particularly raucous New Year’s Eve in Berlin.
In the process, the seasoned young performer – a singer whose influences run from the epic arias of Pavarotti, to the elegant jazz phrasings of Tony Bennett and the next generation concert hall mastery of Bocelli and Groban – built his brand as a bandleader through gigs at venues that range from big city nightspots to theatres across the United States such as The Algonquin Arts Theatre in New Jersey as well as Axelrod PAC, The Great Auditorium, The Pollack Theatre, Rahway PAC, The Newton Theatre, House of Independents, The Grunin Center for the Arts, McLoone’s Supper Club and numerous Luxury Private, Charity, Fundraising Galas and Events throughout the country. He has also played such prestigious NYC venues as The Pierre, Birdland, The Rainbow Room, The Explorers Club, The Rose Theatre at Jazz! At Lincoln Center, The Cutting Room, and Feinstein’s / 54 Below. Recently, Pinnella was tapped by American Young Voices, singing with the group as one of their guest vocalists alongside massive student choirs ranging from 3000-8000 young singers touring major arenas, including a sold out evening at The Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
Pinnella began his career professionally at the age of 16 after an audition for Maestro Fr. Alphonse Stephenson & the Orchestra of St. Peter performing with the orchestra on and off throughout his career. Chris went on to pursue music and received his degree from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC. Post college he worked off-Broadway and regional theatre and had the opportunity to portray the title role of Simeon in the New Musical “Simeon’s Gift” which was co-written by icon Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton-Hamilton. Pinnella spent a month with Ms. Andrews and the 6-person cast at Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, NY working side by side until the show’s premiere. Pinnella also worked alongside Emmy, Oscar winning arranger Ian Fraser and the Tony nominated John Bucchino and Tony nominated director Marcia Milgrom Dodge (B’Way’s Ragtime) on the project.
Currently, Chris has been working and releasing music on all streaming platforms. He’ll also be heading back into the studio to record an all new holiday themed album set to be released this fall. For more information, please visit: www.chrispinnella.com
About the Hope Center
Approximately 19 years ago, a number of clergy from various faith-based organizations in Toms River gathered together to address the growing needs of the under-served population in the greater Toms River Community. From these discussions came the concept of building a “House of Hope” to provide a central place where people in need could turn. In 2008, this dream became a reality as the House of Hope was opened and The Hope Center became operational.
The Hope Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is supported by our faith-based partners, our dedicated staff, our hundreds of volunteers, organizations who have provided grants and other funding to support our work, and finally, the many friends of The Hope Center who have provided their time, love, and support.
“Within a place of hope and faith, The Hope Center’s mission is to serve individuals and families in crisis with dignity and compassion, providing for their basic human needs and striving to empower each person to achieve his or her greatest level of self-sufficiency.”
The staff and volunteers of The Hope Center work to prevent individuals and families from entering the cycle of poverty and homelessness. Services include a Food Pantry to our clients in a “client-choice” environment which our guests find more dignified and empowering and a community garden which produces fresh vegetables and herbs for our guests to take home for their families to enjoy. Emergency shelter assistance, rental and mortgage assistance, utility assistance, and transportation are additional services provided to our guests.
What kind of impact has The Hope Center had in serving our neighbors and communities?
2022 was a record year for The Hope Center! With the generous support of those in our community, The Hope Center was able to assist 23,185 men, women, and children, provided 277,754 pounds of food through our full-service, client-choice pantry, provided individuals and families with 273 nights of safe, emergency shelter and 660 nights of shelter through rental assistance, 18 households with utilities assistance and 35 households with transportation. Guests were also referred to agencies for assistance in acquiring permanent housing. In addition, The Hope Center distributes gifts of warmth, diapers, Thanksgiving and Easter baskets, backpacks filled with school supplies, and toys to those in need during the Christmas holiday.
The Hope Center is located at 253 Chestnut Street, Toms River, NJ 08753. To learn more about The Hope Center, please call 732-341-4447 or visit www.HouseOfHopeOcean.org.
