Marvin Hamlisch to Take Reins of Pasadena Pops Next Season
Marvin Hamlisch
The Pasadena Symphony Association announced today the appointment of musical legend Marvin Hamlisch as Principal pops conductor of the Pasadena POPS, taking the podium next year for three of the four season concerts that will be presented at the POPS new venue, the area adjacent to the Rose Bowl.
In welcoming Hamlisch, CEO of the Symphony Association, Paul Jan Zdunek, said, “We are so delighted to welcome Marvin Hamlisch to Pasadena and look forward to him continuing to position the Pasadena POPS at its new home on the Lawn Adjacent the Rose Bowl, as the destination for exhilarating pops concerts.”
Some news reports quote Zdunek as saying the organization had already approached Hamlisch to be a guest conductor for the current season and when Rachael Worby announced her intention to leave the orchestra to pursue other interests about two and a half weeks ago, working with the Symphony’s Artistic Advisor, James de Preist, approached the well-known composer to offer a more prominent role. The offer received swift approval from Hamlisch.
Hamlisch, at age 66, has had a long and distinguished career in musical theater, television, and motion pictures. He is known as a performer, arranger, musical coordinator, orchestrator, musical supervisor, composer, film scorer and more. Among his achievements are four Emmys, four Grammys, three Golden Globes, one Tony, a Pulitzer Prize and three Oscars. Ascap lists 709 compositions credited to him, among them, the songs from “A Chorus Line”, the song, “The Way We Were” and an adaptation of Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer” from the film, “The Sting”.
Representing the Symphony Board of Directors, Melinda Shea, President, said, “After a dynamic ten-year tenure under the baton of Rachael Worby, we welcome Marvin Hamlisch to the Pasadena POPS as we build on the past with an eye to an even more robust future.”
In the past few years, Hamlisch has been appearing with Pops orchestras around the country and continues to hold the position of Principal Conductor with the National Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Seattle Symphony and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.
The Pasadena Pops 2011 season will include a concert on June 18, July 23, Aug. 6, and Aug. 27. The June 18 concert will be lead by a to-be-determined guest conductor.
The Symphony Board is continuing its work in engaging guest conductors to round out its POPS offerings which include a Holiday POPS concert in December and the annual Music Under the Stars held in the plaza in front of the Pasadena City Hall. The announcement from the Pasadena Symphony Association is decidedly upbeat. “This appointment comes at a time of many exciting and successful changes for the Pasadena Symphony Association this year”, it states. The Pasadena Symphony will begin its fall season on Oct. 23 at the Ambassador Auditorium under the baton of Maestro James DePreist. Mr. DePreist is Artistic Advisor to the group.
By Bill Peters
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