Illinois Inaugural Gala Features Seven Musical Groups at Grand Hyatt Hotel on Jan. 19

Illinois Inaugural Gala Features Seven Musical Groups at Grand Hyatt Hotel on Jan. 19 WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illinois State Society of Washington, DC will feature seven musical groups for every style including ballroom, soul, country and western, and rock and roll at its Inaugural Gala on Wednesday night, January 19 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel at 1000 H Street, NW from 8 PM to 1:30 AM. The bipartisan Illinois State Society was founded in 1854 and is Washington's oldest state society. The club has sponsored Inaugural parties since President Lincoln's Inauguration in 1861. Guests do not need to come from Illinois to attend. Tickets may be purchased by any Washington area resident who loves a good party and bipartisan fun and good will. The honorary co-chairs for the event are House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). "The Illinois party is one of Washington's oldest and best Inauguration traditions," said Gala Chairman Suzanne New. "We have every meeting room on two floors of the Grand Hyatt Hotel to offer a variety of bands, food, and exhibits. Our society is celebrating our 150th Jubilee year and this will be one of our best parties," New said. Bands will include the world-famous Lester Lanin Orchestra in the City of Chicago Ballroom sponsored by Motorola, Inc. The Lester Lanin Orchestra has played at every inauguration in the last 52 years. Other bands will include Hip Pocket, a rock and roll band from Illinois, and Southern Winds, a country and western band from Virginia. Washington, DC's own Second Nature band will feature the sounds of Motown. Fans of contemporary pianist Kit Sampson will find him playing in the ballroom. Daryl Ott is playing show tunes in the Mississippi Riverboat Lounge. DJs Terry and Barry from Nick's Night Club in Alexandria will spin sock hop tunes of the 1950s and 1960s and other oldies in the Whistle Stop Diner. Classical music will be played The Strolling Strings from Fort Washington, Maryland. Tickets for the Illinois ball may be purchased for $150 each by downloading an order form from the web site at http://www.illinoisstatesociety.org/ or by calling 703-461-3610. Information can also be obtained by sending an email to Gala@IllinoisStateSociety.org. Source: Illinois State Society CONTACT: Mark Rhoads of Illinois State Society, +1-703-536-5770 Web site: http://www.illinoisstatesociety.org/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment