Unified, The Pasadena Symphony and POPS Announce New Name
Together since Oct. 1, 2007, The Pasadena Symphony and The Pasadena POPS, along with the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra, are now known as The Orchestras of Pasadena.
The POPS, with Music Director Rachael Worby, and The Symphony, with Music Director Jorge Mester, maintain their unique musical identities, as does the PYSO with Music Director Jack Taylor to bring year-round musical entertainment throughout Southern California.
"I commend the leadership of our respective Boards for positioning our orchestras to attain new heights," said Mester.
"With the synergy generated by combining the talent of these groups, both onstage and behind the scenes, we will achieve extraordinary results," Worby commented.
With the guidance of one Board of Directors and one administration, The Orchestras of Pasadena are under one roof with the recent move to the heart of Old Pasadena at 117 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 200.
"As we become the fifth largest symphony organization in California, combining operations helps The Orchestras of Pasadena better serve the community in all of our facets - performances, education and community involvement," said Diane Rankin, President, The Orchestras of Pasadena Board of Directors.
"This new organization offers many opportunities to enhance the Pasadena Youth Symphony, as well as our music programs in schools," said Taylor.
Pasadena public school music education programs that are the envy of many Southland districts - TEMPO! (school children age 6 to 8), Science of Sound and the Mentor Program (both programs in middle schools), Side-by-Side-by Symphony (middle- and high-school students) - will reach more students through efforts of The Orchestras of Pasadena.
Community engagement activities, including the free concert series Clasica - las raices de la musica (the roots of music), the family-oriented Musical Circus and the jazz-classical Clazzical Notes, will be presented to audiences throughout the Southland.
"Thanks to fine entertainment by these world-class musicians, along with community programs that bring music to our children in the schools, The Orchestras of Pasadena continue to make our city a destination for cultural enrichment," said Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard.
One of the primary goals of The Orchestras of Pasadena is to make music available to everyone, and ticket prices have been lowered to accomplish that objective. The Fall season tickets begin at only $15 per seat per concert for the 2008-09 season beginning Oct. 18. Single tickets are just $20, with even lower tickets for students and children at $10.
"Our ticket prices are simply unbeatable compared to other Southern California music groups," said Tom O'Connor, Executive Director, The Orchestras of Pasadena. "Our 2008-09 season with concerts by both The Symphony and The POPS offers something for everyone, and we want to make sure everyone can afford it!"
The Pasadena POPS presents its annual free community concert, "Music Under the Stars," Sunday, May 25, Memorial Day Weekend, at Pasadena City Hall. Sponsored by Parsons Corporation, Target, Bank of America and the City of Pasadena, begins at 5:30 p.m. with a family festival featuring face painting, stilt walkers, a youth jazz band and more fun. Attendees can set up lawn chairs or blankets, bring their own picnics or enjoy offerings from Pasadena's top restaurants at the festival Food Court. The free community concert, beginning at 7:30, features young singers and musicians from the Pasadena area and special guest, soprano Shana Blake Hill. This year's event during Memorial Day Weekend features a musical salute to America's armed forces.
The POPS opens its 21st season of music and dining under the stars and oaks at Descanso Gardens June 20 and 21 with "How the West Was Sung," with special guest, cowboy poet and singer Michael Martin Murphey (Wildfire, Carolina in the Pines). The Pasadena POPS season at Descanso Gardens is sponsored by Rusnak. Saturday Series Sponsor is Ernst & Young. The Bank of New York Mellon has made possible Mellon Sundays at the POPS.
For more information about The Orchestras of Pasadena, please call (626) 793-7172, or visit www.theorchestras.org.