Behind the Scenes
For six decades Paul Simon has been one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of our time. Simon has seen success as both a solo and collaborating artist performing across multiple genres. Born in New Jersey in 1941, Simon’s mother was an English teacher and his father was teacher and band leader father. After moving to Queens, NY, Simon met Art Garfunkel and they decided to start their own duo. Writing and releasing music under the name of Tom & Jerry, the two released their first single “Hey Schoolgirl” in 1957, which led to them signing with Columbia Records as Simon and Garfunkel. Their first album released on the label, Wednesday Morning, 3AM, was not widely popular, and the group disbanded for a few years before “The Sound of Silence” was remixed by producer Tom Wilson and featured in the 1967 film, The Graduate. The duo then created Sounds of Silence (1966), Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966), Bookends (1968), and their final studio album, Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970).
Simon used the 1970s as a time to launch his solo music career with the hit albums Paul Simon (1972), There Goes Rhymin’ Simon (1973), and Still Crazy After All These Years (1975), which featured audience favorites like “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard,” “Kodachrome,” and “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” In addition to a solo music career, Simon also made a film career for himself, first starring in Annie Hall (1977), and then as writer, composer, and actor of One-Trick Pony (1980). After a brief reunion with Garfunkel for live performances, and the commercial failure of his 1983 album Hearts and Bones (which was initially to be released as a Simon and Garfunkel album), Simon headed to South Africa. Inspired by the music he heard there, Simon created his most successful album, Graceland (1986), featuring the hit songs “Graceland” and “You Can Call Me Al.”
The Paul Simon Songbook is a celebration of Simon’s music leading up to Graceland in 1986. Developed by Schirmer Theatrical and Greenberg Artists to showcase Simon’s prolific catalog, the concert premiered in October 2019 with the Buffalo Philharmonic, and has since been performed around the US. When asked about what it is like performing The Paul Simon Songbook, drummer Eric Metzgar said that the “repertoire lends itself well to playing in an acoustic setting with an orchestra. It’s a pleasure for me to blend dynamically with the ensemble and play in an understated way.” Metzgar admires the intimacy between audiences and musicians that Simon’s music brings to the concert hall.

Set List
- Graceland
by Paul Simon, released on Graceland (1986) - Mrs. Robinson
by Paul Simon, released on Bookends (1968) - Scarborough Fair/Canticle
Canticle by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, released on Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966) - Homeward Bound
by Paul Simon, released on Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966) - Cecilia
by Paul Simon, released on Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) - El Condor Pasa (If I Could)
by Daniel Alomia Robles, Paul Simon, and Jorge Milchberg, released on Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) - 59th Street Bridge Song
by Paul Simon, released on Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966) - The Sound of Silence
by Paul Simon, released on Sounds of Silence (1966) - America
by Paul Simon, released on Bookends (1968) - The Boxer
by Paul Simon, released on Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) - Kodachrome
by Paul Simon, released on There Goes Rhymin’ Simon (1973)
Intermission
- You Can Call Me Al
by Paul Simon, released on Graceland (1986) - Take Me to the Mardi Gras
by Paul Simon, released on There Goes Rhymin’ Simon (1973) - 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
by Paul Simon, released on Still Crazy After All These Years (1975) - Mother and Child Reunion
by Paul Simon, released on Paul Simon (1972) - Still Crazy After All These Years
by Paul Simon, released on Still Crazy After All These Years (1975) - Loves Me Like a Rock
by Paul Simon, released on There Goes Rhymin’ Simon (1973) - Bridge Over Troubled Water
by Paul Simon, released on Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) - Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
by Paul Simon, released on Paul Simon (1972)
ALL ARRANGEMENTS LICENSED BY SCHIRMER THEATRICAL, LLC
Paul Simon Songbook is a co-production of Schirmer Theatrical and Greenberg Artists, part of their joint Symphonic Experience catalogue. Set list subject to change.
Artists

Rick Brantley
Vocals
Rick Brantley made the move to Nashville, TN where he established himself as one of the most in-demand young writers on Music Row with cuts ranging from Meat Loaf to David Nail. An artist and dynamic performer as well as a songwriter, Brantley has toured nonstop all over the world, opening for everyone from John Hiatt to Kiefer Sutherland to Zac Brown and Brandy Clark, as well as headlining his own solo shows.
Brantley continues to add to his impressive portfolio, producing acclaimed records with artists like Rob Baird and Justin Halpin and directing music videos in his down time.

Daniel Berryman
Vocals
Daniel Berryman received a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan. He has performed in major productions of Call Me Madame (Ensemble/Encores! New York), Sweeney Todd (Vacation Swing/Barrow Street), The Golden Apple (Ensemble/Encores!), and The Fantasticks (The Boy/Theatre Center). His roles in national tours include Les Misérables (Swing) and The Sound of Music (Ensemble). His performances in regional productions include Sweeney Todd (Anthony/Denver Center), Hello, Dolly! (Ambrose/Muny), The Most Happy Fella (Ciccio/Goodspeed), and Rent (Mark/The 5th Ave Theatre). In the symphonic world, Berryman performed with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in 2018 to celebrate 100 years of The Muny, St. Louis’ historic outdoor theatre, under the direction of Ben Whitely.

Emily Drennan
Vocals
Originally from Oklahoma, Emily Drennan has been a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Radio City Music Hall. She was seen in the New York Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes (the summer counterpart to the holiday show), and was seen touring Europe and the Caribbean playing Tanya in Mamma Mia! Drennan was also seen as “Mezzo” in the Lucille Lortel Award-winning a cappella show, Voca People, in its off-Broadway performances as well as touring performances in Israel, Japan, and Dubai. Drennan has also been seen in NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice, filmed versions of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (on NBC, PBS, Netflix), and Toxic Audio, an off-Broadway a cappella show that won the Drama Desk Award.
Drennan was a National Presidential Scholar in the Arts, before graduating from Oklahoma State University, summa cum laude, with two degrees (Economics, Spanish) and four minors (Finance, Marketing, International Business, and Latin American Studies). Drennan’s voiceover and studio recording work can be heard nationally in English and Spanish on her albums and singles. She has been a guest soloist with over 25 orchestras, sharing the stage for more than 100 performances.

Eric Metzgar
Drums
Eric Metzgar is an in-demand drummer and versatile collaborator who offers his musicianship to various jazz/pop artists and symphony orchestras worldwide. He has had the opportunity to play with numerous first-rate performers including Jeff Tyzik, Sutton Foster, Joe Locke, Jimmy Greene, Shayna Steele, Byron Stripling, and Delfeayo Marsalis.
Metzgar is a passionate educator deeply invested in music teaching and learning. Each summer, he teaches at the Cape Ann Jazz Workshop under the direction of saxophonist Alexa Tarantino. He maintains a private studio and serves as a clinician at grade schools and universities.
Metzgar holds a BM in Drum Set Performance and an MM in Music Teaching and Learning from the Eastman School of Music. He lives in New York City and tours frequently around the world.

Brian Killeen
Bass Guitar
Born and raised in New York, Brian Killeen has had a healthy obsession with music since as early back as he can remember. By the time he picked up a bass guitar at the age of ten, he was certain of a career as a musician. Grasping every performance opportunity and seeking the tutelage of the best educators available, he quickly found himself immersed in the worlds of jazz, rock, and everything in between. At the age of 18, the great Avishai Cohen would take him under his wing, leading to performances in New York City’s most noted jazz clubs, including The Blue Note, Birdland, Small’s, and Sweet Basil. Simultaneously, Killeen would enroll in William Paterson University’s famed jazz program, where he would learn to actively double between upright and electric basses. Out of college, Killeen would go on to tour extensively with experimental funk stalwarts ulu, funk/ roots rock outfit the Josh Dion Band, and guitar legend Chuck Loeb, leading to unforgettable performances in the US, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, and Japan. As Brian settled deeper into NYC, he embraced freelance life, backing up a variety of artists including Rachel Platten, A Great Big World, Liz Longley, Barnaby Bright, Caleb Hawley, Robbie Gil, Joe Sumner, Bill Evans, and Jim Campilongo. Killeen continues to back up a host of performers, often joined by long-time collaborators and NYC throwback-rock mainstays Brooklyn Sugar Co.
Brian feels equally at home in orchestral and theatrical settings. He has been the long-time bass chair holder for the Big Apple Circus, where he learned to welcome the unexpected. He also had the pleasure of joining many performances, including a feature on the Today Show, with the Broadway production of The Cher Show. Brian has been accompanying Schirmer/Greenberg Artist productions since 2019, and thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to play some of the world’s finest music alongside the country’s most acclaimed conductors and symphony orchestras.

Shubh Saran
Guitar
Shubh Saran is a New York-based guitarist, composer, and producer who has performed globally with his band throughout the United States, India, Canada, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Mexico. Having grown up in six different countries, his career has been shaped by a mixture of influences. Saran’s intricate compositions fuse sounds from modern jazz, neo-soul, and rock, with classical and contemporary Indian music. In October 2021, Saran independently released his second full-length album titled inglish – a groundbreaking work that explores concepts of assimilation, global identity, and native culture. The album was included on Pitchfork‘s list of Best Jazz and Experimental Music of 2021.
Before moving to New York City to start his music career, Saran studied at Berklee College of Music, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance. In 2017, Saran made his critically acclaimed debut with the release of Hmayra, and later followed up with H.A.D.D. (2018), and Becoming (2019). Throughout his career as a recording artist, each release has represented a different introspection for Saran.
Creative Team
Robert Thompson
Creative Producer
Jeff Tyzik
Producer & Arranger
Jami Greenberg
Producer & Booking Agent
Alex Kosick
Associate Producer

Schirmer Theatrical is a concert production company specializing in the creation of symphonic experiences, film with live orchestra concerts, and theatrical productions.

Greenberg Artists is an artist management and concert production company striving to bring the highest level of talent and musical integrity to audiences around the world.