TUCSON, Arizona (KOLD News 13) – After a year-long absence, the beautiful music of the Tucson Pops Orchestra, conducted by Maestro László Veres, returns to Reid Park on Sunday, September 5. The four-performance Fall Concert Series will feature two of the three finalist conductors featuring concerts curated and conducted by each nominee. The opening and closing concerts will be conducted by Veres. All of them will certainly be a welcome sound for the thousands of regular guests who have missed Music Under the Stars.

COVID SECURITY AT THE PARK

Aware of current COVID safety recommendations and for the safety of orchestra members, staff, volunteers and patrons, the Tucson Pops Orchestra and the Board of Directors strongly urge all customers who choose to attend concerts in the park to be fully vaccinated against COVID 19 before attending. . Wearing a face covering is recommended when interacting with any of the staff or orchestra. Additional information on all COVID protocols for the city of Tucson can be found at www.tucsonaz.gov

TUCSON POPS FALL PROGRAM

September 5 – László Veres with guest artist Jack Neubeck. A delightful opening night featuring the music of one of Tucson’s favorite singers. As a longtime board member and announcer of Tucson Pops, Neubeck is poised to perform a variety of George Gershwin show pieces as well as popular classics. Smile and My way . In a special dedication to the city of Tucson, the orchestra will perform the Tucson March by local composer Mark Wolfram, Twentiana – A montage of songs from the 1920s and more.

September 12 – Guest conductor: Toru Tagawa with guest artist: David Morgan, Tuba. Toro Tagawa presents a program for all ages, from a Hi american and the score of Chicago, To Beethovan Symphony No.5 , selections from Carmen, a mix of the Beatles and more. Special guest, tubist David Morgan will perform the Snorkel Tiger Rag.

September 19 – Guest conductor Khris Dodge with guest artists: Matthew Holter, José “ Chach “Snook, Tyler Wright and Crystal Stark. Khris Dodge presents a wonderfully eclectic concert featuring some of Tucson’s best talent. The Orchestra opens with Imagine – What a wonderful world and Somewhere above the rainbow , among others; Holter, Snook and Wright will sing O Solo Mio and Nessan Dorma and Pops favorite Crystal Stark will perform A moment in time.

September 26 – László Veres with guest artist Ryan Chen on guitar. This concert opens with the world premiere of “Extra! Additional! Read all about it! by Mark Wolfram followed by Broadway-sponsored Selections from My Fair Lady in Tucson, Chorus of the Matadors, Eine Klein Nachtmusik and more. Guitarist Ryan Chen will perform Recuerdos de la Alhambra.

For more details and to see the full music programs, visit tucsonpops.org

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Throughout the pandemic, the Tucson Pops Orchestra has created a selection of wonderful virtual performances available to the community for in-home viewing until the live music returns to the park. The most recent of these is the moving score for Sound of Music, which will be released on the Tucson Pops YouTube channel in September. For more details, visit www.tucsonpops.com

Look for the weekly “Food Truck Roundup” at every Pops concert featuring a variety of Tucson’s best food trucks, providing attendees with a great picnic fare. Participating vendors and the full music program are available on the website at tucsonpops.org

Who: Tucson Pops Orchestra Spring 2019 Concert Season

When: Sundays 5,13,20 and September 27 at 7 p.m.

Or: DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, Reid Park

What: Free concerts “Under the stars” for the whole family

ABOUT THE TUCSON POPS ORCHESTRA

Founded by Georges DeMeester, the Tucson Pops Orchestra has been giving free concerts to Tucson audiences for 67 years. DeMeester brought together a group of musicians to form the Tucson Pops Orchestra, their common goal was to share their love of music with audiences – to make classics and popular tunes accessible to everyone at the free concerts they gave. They used every available space, including the VA Hospital, a hotel on Miracle Mile, at various radio stations, Himmel Park, and Reid Park, where they performed in the back of a flatbed truck. They had no idea then that the Orchestra would still perform today in the open-air performance center at Reid Park named after their founder. When Georges retired in 1973, he passed the baton to Charles “Bucky” Steele who increased the number of musicians and was conductor until 1997. Since then, Maestro László Veres has continued to develop the music. ‘orchestra which today includes almost entirely musicians from the Tucson Symphony who perform with the Pops during their off season. The Tucson Pops Orchestra features southern AZ’s top musicians, whose pleasure it is to continue to provide the highest quality music to Tucson audiences every season. For more information visit www.tucsonpops.org or dial 520-722-5853.

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