This week, prepare to embark on a new musical journey that marks the exciting debut of "Rockabilly 2 Rachmaninoff," a captivating new series In the Flamingo Lounge dropping every two months on the second Saturday. Each episode promises unique insights, featuring a special guest from the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Joining us for the inaugural episode in the series, is Ron Spigelman, an acclaimed conductor with an impressive career spanning continents and genres. A native of Australia and an honors graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, Ron begins the 25/26 season as the new Principal Pops Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

No stranger to the BPO, he previously served as their Associate Conductor, among other notable roles including Music Director for the Fort Worth Dallas Ballet and the Springfield Symphony. He’s also been Principal Pops Conductor for both the Fort Worth and Syracuse Symphonies.

Ron's conducted everything from symphonic works, ballet, and opera to musical theater and over 30 live-to-film productions, including all eight Harry Potter films! He's shared the stage with a diverse array of artists, from classical virtuosos to pop icons like James Taylor, Leslie Odom Jr., and Gladys Knight.

Beyond the baton, Ron is deeply committed to the community. He's board president of Harmony Project Tulsa, bringing music education to underSERVED youth. Ron recently graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University, receiving a prestigious dean's medal. He lives in Tulsa with his wife, Laura, and their six children.

Savannah Swatland is a small-town farm girl pursuing a dream of singing and performing her own music. She spends her time training horses, working on trucks, and writing music. When she was 14, she won the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition in Sevierville, TN. This kickstarted her career in music leading to her singing the Nation Anthem for a Toby Keith concert, multiple appearances on radio stations, performing live music in both New York and Tennessee, writing and recording her own songs which she has out, and singing the Nation Anthem for many events from political gatherings to rodeos. Savannah is country through and through which shows in her choice of cover songs and her original music.

Savannah visited Rockabilly Greg In the Flamingo on June 18, 2025 for a great conversation as well as some of Savannah’s original tunes, performed and recorded live In the Flamingo Lounge.

This week’s guest In the Flamingo Lounge, Kevin Leary, is a pretty busy guy at the Kenan Center! He's not just the Arts & Culture Program Manager there, but he's also a talented director, choreographer, actor, and arts manager.

Throughout his career, Kevin has had some amazing experiences. He's toured nationally as an actor in shows like The Music Man, 42nd Street, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He also worked as an Assistant Director and Male Swing for Singin' in the Rain at the Goodspeed Opera House.

Back home, he's directed The Glass Menagerie and Godspell at the Lancaster Opera House. And over at the Alleyway Theatre, he's showcased his skills as choreographer for Kragtar!: An American Monster Musical and director for Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf.

Kevin's got a strong educational background too, with a BFA in Acting/Musical Theatre from Wright State University and an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies (focusing on Theatre and Arts Management) from the University at Buffalo.