THE NEW YORK POPS ANNOUNCES KIDS ON STAGE FINALISTS
20 select students to play on stage at Carnegie Hall during the orchestra’s 31st Birthday Gala on April 28, 2014
PopsEd Ambassadors Julia Murney, Rob McClure and Steven Reineke in a special talkback on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 2:00 PM at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music.
NEW YORK, NY – On Sunday, February 9, 2014, The New York Pops held auditions for its Kids On Stage program which gives middle school students the opportunity to have a professional performance experience. 20 students from nine different schools across the five boroughs were selected from a pool of 54 applicants. The selected students and their parents will have the opportunity to hear from PopsEd Ambassadors Julia Murney, Rob McClure and Steven Reineke in a special talkback on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 2:00 PM at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music. The discussion will be a learning experience focused on having a career in the performing arts and the steps each artist has taken to get where they are – from their early training, to their first successes, and finally to their current roles as performers and educators.
Culminating in a performance on stage at Carnegie Hall alongside New York Pops musicians at the 31st Birthday Gala on Monday, April 28, 2014, the chosen students will first have three rehearsals with their peers and PopsEd Teaching Artists, one rehearsal with Music Director Steven Reineke, as well as the dress rehearsal for the concert at Carnegie Hall. In addition, five of these exceptional students will receive a full two- week scholarship to the New York Summer Music Festival in Oneonta, New York for advanced musical studies.
“Kids on Stage fills the huge gap that exists in today’s music education system. The students are asked to prepare a piece of music, play basic scales and also sight read in a format similar to an orchestral audition. This provides the students with the unique opportunity to go through a true audition process. We heard many levels of accomplishment, from players who had been playing only a year to others who were quite advanced. Regardless of their level, I think that every player can benefit from this process. And of course the winners get to play on the stage of Carnegie Hall, surrounded by a professional orchestra!,” says Neil Balm, New York Pops Principal Trumpet and Judge.
ABOUT POPSED
The New York Pops is dedicated to lifelong learning, and collaborates with public schools, community organizations, children’s hospitals and senior centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City. PopsEd allows thousands of New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds to participate in fully customizable music programs that blend traditional education with pure fun. We make music open to all, and use tools like composition, lyric writing, performance and mentorship to foster learning and unbridled creativity. In doing so, we excite students and give them skills they can apply to all areas of their lives.
The PopsEd Ambassadors are some of the brightest performers working today, brought together in an effort to raise awareness of the incredible programs PopsEd offers to the community.
ABOUT THE NEW YORK POPS
The New York Pops is the largest independent pops orchestra in the United States, and the only professional symphonic orchestra in New York City specializing in popular music. Led by Music Director Steven Reineke, the orchestra performs an annual subscription series and birthday gala at Carnegie Hall. The New York Pops was founded by Skitch Henderson in 1983 with a mission to create greater public awareness and appreciation of America’s rich musical heritage. For more information visit www.newyorkpops.org and follow on Facebook (facebook.com/newyorkpops) and Twitter (@newyorkpops).
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