Press Releases

PASADENA SYMPHONY KICKS OFF 2023-24 SEASON WITH TCHAIKOVSKY, MENDELSSOHN AND A NOD TO SILICON VALLEY’S GREAT INVENTORS

September 28, 2023 Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony opens its 96th season on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Ambassador Auditorium with both matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. The six-concert series of Classical Music’s Greatest Hits, will open with Tchaikovsky’s fate-filled Symphony No. 4. Highly sought-after conductor Brett Mitchell returns to kick…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY AND POPS HOST GLIMMERING ANNUAL GALA AT PASADENA CITY HALL

September 8, 2023 Pasadena, CA – Join the Pasadena Symphony Association (PSA) for an unforgettable evening of enchantment and romance on Saturday, September 23, 2023 as they host their annual Moonlight Sonata Gala, surrounded by the beauty of Pasadena City Hall. The festivities will kick off with an elegant courtyard reception, followed by a luxe…

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MICHAEL FEINSTEIN SALUTES THE GIANTS OF BROADWAY FROM GERSHWIN TO SONDHEIM

July 19, 2023 Pasadena, CA – Principal POPS Conductor Michael Feinstein puts down the conducting baton and picks up the microphone for one night only to sing a full concert devoted to Broadway for Michael Feinstein Sings Broadway on Saturday, July 29 at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. An old-fashioned crooner with luxuriant vocals that…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY & POPS ANNOUNCES CEO SEARCH AND INTERIM MANAGEMENT PLAN

June 14, 2023 Pasadena, CA – The Board of Directors of the Pasadena Symphony Association (PSA) announce the opening of the search for their next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The national search will be conducted by Arts Consulting Group, the leading provider of executive search services for the arts and culture industry, and will be…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES MUSIC EDUCATION EXPANSION SERVING MORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, ADDING SUMMER PROGRAM AND PROVIDING INSTRUMENTS

May 11, 2023 Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony Association is pleased to announce the expansion of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestras (PYSO). The PYSO will expand its programming threefold –  the organization will launch a summer intensive program for students in grades 5-8, the All City Orchestra (ACO) will add one new site at…

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Tai Murray

GERSHWIN, RACHMANINOFF AND BARBER CLOSE THE PASADENA SYMPHONY’S 22/23 SEASON

April 6, 2023 Pasadena, CA The Pasadena Symphony closes out its 22/23 season with An American in Paris at Ambassador Auditorium on Saturday, April 29, 2023 with matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Emerging international conductor Kensho Watanabe will make his Pasadena debut, taking audiences on an aural journey through the City of…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES STELLAR 23/24 SEASON OF CLASSICAL MUSIC’S GREATEST HITS PAIRED WITH ITS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED COMPOSER’S SHOWCASE OF VIBRANT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

Acclaimed guest conductors Brett Mitchell, Ward Stare, Kensho Watanabe, Kyle Dickson, François López-Ferrer, Linhan Cui and Jenny Wong will serve as Artistic Partners for the 2023/24 season March 15, 2023 Pasadena, CA – Pasadena Symphony announces its 2023/24 season with an exhilarating schedule of seven performances, running October 21, 2023 through April 20, 2024. Season…

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Alexander Malofeev

A WORLD PIANO REVOLUTION IS COMING TO PASADENA SYMPHONY IN MARCH: ALEXANDER MALOFEEV PERFORMS RACHMANINOFF’S 2ND PIANO CONCERTO

February 23, 2023 Pasadena, CA – Following February’s nearly sold-out Scheherazade performance, the Pasadena Symphony continues its 22/23 season with Beethoven & Rachmaninoff on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at Ambassador Auditorium with matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Piano phenom Alexander Malofeev will headline a program of heavy-hitters by two of Classical music’s…

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SCHEHERAZADE AND GRAMMY-AWARD WINNING CELLIST ZUILL BAILEY ARRIVE AT THE PASADENA SYMPHONY JUST IN TIME FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

January 27, 2023 Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony continues the 22/23 season with Scheherazade on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at Ambassador Auditorium with matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. The orchestra’s ode to romance will also feature Grammy Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey on Elgar’s Cello Concerto. Spanish-American conductor François López-Ferrer, who serves…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY’S CHERISHED HOLIDAY CONCERT RETURNS TO ALL SAINTS CHURCH DECEMBER 17

November 17, 2022 Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony’s annual Holiday Candlelight concert returns to All Saints Church on Saturday, December 17, 2022 with two performances at 4:00pm & 7:00pm. Pasadena’s most sought-after event of the season has become a cherished community holiday tradition and sells out quickly. The architecturally exquisite and acoustically sonorous All…

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LA OPERA RESIDENT CONDUCTOR LINA GONZÁLEZ-GRANADOS LEADS THE PASADENA SYMPHONY FOR TCHAIKOVSKY NO. 5

With Sibelius Violin Concerto performed by International Tchaikovsky Competition winner Alexandra Conunova October 26, 2022 Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony continues its 95th season with Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at Ambassador Auditorium with both matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Newly appointed LA Opera Resident Conductor, Lina…

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Terrence Wilson

PASADENA SYMPHONY KICKS OFF 2022-23 SEASON WITH MOZART, SAINT-SAËNS AND A MESSAGE TO HUMANITY

September 29, 2022 Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony opens its 95th season with Mozart & Saint-Saëns on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at Ambassador Auditorium with both matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Internationally recognized for his energetic presence, imaginative programming and compelling musicianship, conductor Vinay Parameswaran will kick off the 2022-23 Symphony…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY AND POPS HOST DAZZLING ANNUAL GALA AT PASADENA CITY HALL

September 1, 2022 Pasadena, CA – Join the Pasadena Symphony Association (PSA) for an unforgettable evening of enchantment and romance on Saturday, September 24, 2022 as they host their annual Moonlight Sonata Gala, surrounded by the beauty of Pasadena City Hall. The festivities will kick off with an elegant courtyard reception, followed by a luxe…

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MICHAEL FEINSTEIN & THE PASADENA POPS HEAT UP THE SUMMER WITH LATIN SIZZLE

June 14, 2022 Pasadena, CA – Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein kicks off the Pasadena POPS 2022 Rusnak Summer Concert series on Saturday, June 25 with Sway with Me: Latin Rhythm and Swing. The POPS season opener will explore the interchange between American and Latin sound throughout the years, and will have the audience swaying…

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music under the stars

PASADENA SYMPHONY AND POPS WILL HAVE YOU DANCIN’ IN THE STREETS FOR THE RETURN OF MUSIC UNDER THE STARS, A FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT AT PASADENA CITY HALL

May 12, 2022 Arrive early for Kids Korner, featuring face painting, balloon animals, a musical instrument petting zoo and performance by Bob Baker Marionette Theater! Pasadena, CA – Stars of stage and screen will illuminate the night sky when the Pasadena Symphony and POPS presents its annual free Music Under the Stars concert on Saturday, June…

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RAN DANK PERFORMS PROKOFIEV WITH THE PASADENA SYMPHONY ALONGSIDE A WORLD PREMIERE BY BRETT BANDUCCI AND BEETHOVEN’S NO. 5 FOR ITS SEASON FINALE AT AMBASSADOR AUDITORIUM

April 18, 2022 Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony concludes its season on Saturday, April 30 with the four most well-known notes in Classical music – Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Relentless, emotional and triumphant all describe Beethoven’s most famous symphony, which will be led by internationally renowned conductor Keitaro Harada, who currently serves as Music…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY HEATS UP THE AMBASSADOR WITH A FIERY GRIEG PIANO CONCERTO AND MOZART SYMPHONY N0. 40

March 4, 2022 Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony continues its 2021/22 season on Saturday, March 19 with Mozart Symphony No. 40. Mozart’s stormy symphony headlines a colorful program with Grieg’s hugely popular Piano Concerto and Adam Schoenberg’s “Finding Rothko.” Highly sought-after conductor Brett Mitchell leads the orchestra as Artistic Partner for this emotionally-charged repertoire…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES 2022/23 SEASON TOGETHER WITH MUSIC DIRECTOR SEARCH

Acclaimed guest conductors François López-Ferrer, Lina Gonzáles-Granados, Vinay Parameswaran, Rebecca Tong, Kensho Watanabe, Jenny Wong and Joseph Young will serve as Artistic Partners for the 2022/23 season Third annual Composers Showcase will feature works by composers who are shaping the future of classical music with Unsuk Chin, Anna Clyne, Valerie Coleman, Nokuthula Ngwenyama, Huang Ruo…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY’S ODE TO ROMANCE ARRIVES JUST IN TIME FOR VALENTINE’S WITH TCHAIKOVSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO

January 26, 2022 Covid-19 vaccination policy requires booster shots for all eligible concertgoers  Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony continues its 2021/22 season with updated Covid-19 vaccination requirements, including boosters for all eligible patrons, staff and musicians. On the heels of a strong turnout for January’s annual Baroque concert, the orchestra sets the tone for…

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NICHOLAS MCGEGAN RETURNS TO CONDUCT BACH AND VIVALDI’S MOST POPULAR CONCERTOS

January 5, 2022 Updates to Covid-19 vaccination policy require booster shots for all eligible concertgoers  Pasadena, CA – The New Year heralds the return of Conductor Nicholas McGegan to lead the Pasadena Symphony for Baroque: Brandenburg 5 on Saturday, January, 22 at Ambassador Auditorium with both matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Highly…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY’S BELOVED HOLIDAY CANDLELIGHT RETURNS TO ALL SAINTS CHURCH

Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony’s annual Holiday Candlelight concert returns to All Saints Church on Saturday, December 18, 2021 with two performances at 4:00pm & 7:00pm. Pasadena’s most sought-after concert of the season has become a cherished community holiday tradition and sells out quickly. The architecturally exquisite and acoustically sonorous All Saints Church, Pasadena’s…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY & POPS ELECTS NEW DIRECTORS STEPHEN MIYABE, STEVEN ROSEN AND VICTORIA SCHWARTZ AND BOB MICHERO AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

November 11, 2021 Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony and POPS proudly welcomes respected community leaders to its 30-member Board of Directors and announces the appointment of Bob Michero as its Board President commencing with the 21/22 Season. Stephen Miyabe, Pasadena Market President for Northern Trust’s Wealth Management Team, Steven Rosen, Provost & Chief Scientific…

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GERSHWIN AND DVOŘÁK LEAD THE PASADENA SYMPHONY’S TRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN SOUND

October 25, 2021 Pasadena, CA –The Pasadena Symphony continues its 2021-22 season with Rhapsody in Blue on Saturday, November 13th at Ambassador Auditorium with both matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Concertgoers will experience the music that defined the American sound with iconic works by Gershwin and Dvořák. The effervescence of Gilmore Young…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY KICKS OFF 2021-22 SEASON WITH BEETHOVEN, BRAHMS AND BANNER

October 5, 2021 Pasadena, CA –  Pasadena Symphony and Pops opens its 93rd season with Beethoven Symphony No. 7 on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at Ambassador Auditorium with both matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Acclaimed conductor Joseph Young, who serves as Music Director of the Berkeley Symphony among other major posts across…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY AND POPS HOST DAZZLING ANNAUL GALA AT PASADENA CITY HALL

Pasadena, CA – Join the Pasadena Symphony Association for an evening of celebration and reconnection on Saturday, September 25, 2021 as they host their annual Moonlight Sonata Gala, back live and-in person surrounded by the beauty of Pasadena City Hall. The festivities will kick off with an elegant courtyard reception, followed by a luxe dinner,…

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PASADENA POPS PERFORM 100 YEARS OF BROADWAY HITS TO CLOSE A SELL-OUT SEASON

Pasadena, CA – Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS close their popular outdoor summer concert series at the Los Angeles County Arboretum on Saturday, September 11 with 100 Years of Broadway. The POPS Broadway celebration provides a fitting cap to a season of five concerts, all performed to nearly sold-out audiences. The season finale will…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES SEVEN ARTISTIC PARTNERS TO LEAD THE ORCHESTRA FOR THE 2021-2022 SYMPHONY SERIES TOGETHER WITH NEWS THAT MUSIC DIRECTOR DAVID LOCKINGTON WILL BE ON LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR THE SEASON

Acclaimed conductors Keitaro Harada, Nic McGegan, Brett Mitchell, Anna Rakitina, Jenny Wong, Lidiya Yankovskaya and Joseph Young will serve as Artistic Partners and lead the orchestra for the 21/22 season The Pasadena Symphony’s annual Composers Showcase will feature works from musicians who are shaping the future of classical music with Brett Banducci, Gabriela Frank, Jessie…

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Pasadena POPS Light Up the Arboretum with the Music of Fleetwood Mac

Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena POPS continue their popular one-of-a kind, outdoor concert series with the music of supergroup Fleetwood Mac for Fleetwood Mac: A Tribute on Saturday, July 24 at the LA County Arboretum. Resident POPS Conductor Larry Blank will take the podium to lead the orchestra along with Landslide, the premiere Fleetwood Mac tribute band. Having performed with orchestras across North America, Landslide’s band members…

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Pasadena POPS Announce Return to the Arboretum for 2021 Summer Concert Series

Pasadena, CA – Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS are ecstatic to announce the return of live in-person concerts this summer at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. The popular 2021 Sierra Summer Concert Series will present five concerts from July 10 to September 11, 2021 for fully vaccinated audiences. The series will…

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Pasadena Symphony Announces Pasadena Presents Spring Line-Up

February 17, 2021 Music Director David Lockington and the Pasadena Symphony announce the 2020/21 Pasadena Presents Spring Season of five online concerts, beginning February 27 through May 22, 2021. The spring series continues the format of the orchestra’s online offering of chamber music with a twist, with each concert featuring a renowned guest artist performing…

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Pasadena Symphony Announces Pasadena Presents to Launch in October

Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony announces the launch of a phased return to concerts with Pasadena Presents, a series of four performances running October 17 – November 14, 2020. In order to adapt to guidelines set forth by local and state authorities, Pasadena Presents will serve as a new, intimate concert experience that will…

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Pasadena Symphony and POPS Annual Fundraising Gala Goes Virtual

Pasadena, CA – Join the Pasadena Symphony Association for an unforgettable evening of music and entertainment on Saturday, September 12, 2020 at 6pm as they transform the annual Moonlight Sonata Gala to a unique online experience. The party will come to you via a live-streamed special event featuring exclusive performances from Pasadena Symphony and POPS…

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Pasadena POPS Reschedules 2020 Summer Concert Series to 2021

Pasadena, CA – Due to the guidelines issued by government authorities during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pasadena POPS has regrettably made the difficult decision to reschedule the 2020 Summer POPS Series at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in its entirety to Summer 2021. “We are deeply saddened that we are unable to perform at a time when the inspiration that comes…

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Gershwin and Debussy Lead the Pasadena Symphony’s Ode to Romance

Plus Oscar® and Grammy® Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino’s Voyage Pasadena CA – Music Director David Lockington and the Pasadena Symphony continue the 19/20 Symphony Classics season with Gershwin/Debussy on Saturday, February 15 at Ambassador Auditorium with matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. This powerful and romantic Valentine’s program opens with a bang with…

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Vivaldi’s Most Cherished Concertos lead a Baroque Program for All Seasons

Pasadena CA – Music Director David Lockington and the Pasadena Symphony present their annual Baroque program with Vivaldi Four Seasons on Saturday, January 25 at Ambassador Auditorium with matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Lockington describes the program for his Baroque conductorial debut with the orchestra as being “filled with all sorts of…

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Pasadena Symphony Presents Beethoven “Emperor” with a Little Latin Flair

Pasadena CA – Music Director David Lockington and the Pasadena Symphony continue the 19-20 Classics season with Beethoven “Emperor” on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at Ambassador Auditorium with matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Along with Beethoven’s heroic masterpiece, Pulitzer-Prize-winning composer Ellen Reid’s Petrichor will open the performance by redefining ‘surround sound’ with…

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Pasadena Symphony Announces 2019-20 Classics Season

New Composers Showcase features works from acclaimed musicians who are shaping the future of classical music including Ellen Reid, Caroline Shaw, Michael Giacchino, Reena Esmail, Sydney Wang and Michael Abels Pasadena, CA – Music Director David Lockington and the Pasadena Symphony announce its 92nd season with an exhilarating schedule of seven concerts, running October 19,…

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Rodolfo Leone, piano

March Roars Like a Lion as the Pasadena Symphony Takes on Mahler’s Epic Titan Symphony

Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony returns to Ambassador Auditorium on Saturday, March 23 with a program of epic proportions as Music Director David Lockington leads an oversized orchestra for Mahler’s monumental “Titan” Symphony No. 1. Mahler’s First Symphony tops off a grandiose program with Mozart’s fantastical Piano Concerto No. 21 performed by International Beethoven Piano…

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Melissa White violin

Bernstein & Copland Brings Classical Music with a New Attitude – November 17, 2018

Pasadena CA – Music Director David Lockington and the Pasadena Symphony continue the 18-19 Classics season with Bernstein and Copland on Saturday, November 17 at Ambassador Auditorium with performances at 2pm and 8pm. On the heels of Bernstein’s centennial, the performance will celebrate American masters, with a program that bridges popular and classical music through…

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Pasadena Symphony Opens 2018-19 Classics Season with Mozart’s Requiem – October 20, 2018

Pasadena CA –Tender melodies, powerful choruses, exquisite arias — Mozart’s hauntingly beautiful Requiem gets the Pasadena Symphony’s 2018-19 season off to a grand start on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Ambassador Auditorium with both matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Mendelssohn’s String Symphony No. 3 and Elgar’s Introduction & Allegro round out this deeply-emotive program,…

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Pasadena Symphony Announces 2018-19 Classics Series

Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony announces its 91st season with a larger than life schedule of seven concerts, commencing on October 20th with Mozart’s Requiem through to a May 4th finale with the four most famous notes in Classical music – Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Other highlights include Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 “Titan,” a tribute…

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Pasadena POPS Season Finale Brings Two Tony Winners for the Best Of Hit Shows that Traveled from Broadway to Hollywood – September 8, 2018

Pasadena, CA – Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS close out their popular outdoor summer concert series at the Los Angeles County Arboretum on Saturday, September 8 with Broadway Goes to the Movies. The POPS season finale will provide a quintessential Feinstein experience with some of Broadway’s greatest performers recreating songs from hit shows that…

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Summer of Love: Michael Feinstein Sings the Hits of the ’60s

Pasadena, CA – Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein puts down the conducting baton and picks up the microphone for one night only for Summer of Love on Saturday, July 21 at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. Spend an evening with the Pasadena POPS, led by Resident Pops Conductor Larry Blank, as Michael Feinstein Sings the…

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Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to the Beatles – August 4, 2018

Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena POPS celebrates the best of The Beatles with Classical Mystery Tour on Saturday, August 4 at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. Back by popular demand, Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to the Beatles brings the timeless hits of the Fab Four to life with a fresh set list of favorites…

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Michael Feinstein presents Bernstein’s New York – August 18, 2018

Pasadena, CA – Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS continue the 2018 Sierra Summer Concert Series with a momentous tribute to Leonard Bernstein on Saturday, August 18 at 7:30pm. The POPS presents Bernstein’s New York as part of the Leonard Bernstein at 100 centennial being celebrated around the globe, but Feinstein has…

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Dwight Yoakam Live at the Arboretum, June 15

Pasadena, CA – Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger proudly presents the third annual summer concert festival “Live at the Arboretum” with legendary country star Dwight Yoakam on Saturday, June 15 at 7:00pm at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. Supporting act Desure will open the show at 6:00pm. Tickets start at $15 and gates…

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Pasadena Symphony Extends Music Director David Lockington’s Contract Through 2021-22 and Concludes It’s 90th Season with All-Beethoven Finale

Pasadena CA –The Pasadena Symphony Association announces the contract renewal  of Music Director David Lockington through 2021-22. Lockington renews his role which began in 2013. Since then, the orchestra has shown tremendous growth, cementing the Pasadena Symphony as the area’s premiere destination for live symphonic music. “In his five years leading the PSO, Lockington has taken an ensemble that was…

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Rachmaninoff’s Romantic Blockbuster Leads a Program Filled with Mystery and Intrigue

Pasadena CA – The Pasadena Symphony continues its 90th season on Saturday, March 24th with Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini at Ambassador Auditorium with performances at 2pm and 8pm.  Music Director David Lockington will lead this mesmerizing program filled with mystery and intrigue, opening with Alexander Miller’s contemporary puzzle overture Scherzo Crypto, and…

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Pasadena Symphony Announces 2018 POPS Season

Pasadena, CA – Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein returns to the Los Angeles County Arboretum with stars of stage and screen for five concerts sure to make your summer sizzle. The 2018 Sierra Summer Concert Series commences June 23rd through September 8th with a jam-packed line-up of multiple award-winning guest artists including two-time Tony Award…

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MICHAEL FEINSTEIN & THE POPS OPEN THE SEASON WITH LIZA MINNELLI!

THE PASADENA POPS & MICHAEL FEINSTEIN CELEBRATE BROADWAY WITH A STAR-STUDDED EVENING HONORING LIZA MINELLI Pasadena, CA – Principal POPS Conductor Michael Feinstein opens the 2017 Pasadena POPS Sierra Auto Concert Series at the Los Angeles Arboretum on Saturday June 17th with Broadway: The Golden Age. A star-studded affair, the season opener will celebrate the…

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TICKETS NOW ON-SALE FOR INAUGURAL LIVE AT THE ARBORETUM CONCERT WITH LEANN RIMES!

LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger presents Grammy Award winning artist LeAnn Rimes “Live at the Arboretum” July 8 Pasadena, CA – Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger proudly presents the inaugural summer concert festival “Live at the Arboretum” with Grammy award winning artist LeAnn Rimes on Saturday, July 8 at 6:30pm at the Los Angeles County…

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2017-18 SYMPHONY CLASSICS SINGLE TICKETS NOW ON SALE!

Season Subscriptions Still Available! Lock-in the best seats at the best price before they sell out.       Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 October 14, 2017 David Lockington, conductor Dylana Jenson, violin James Lee III              Ichabod! The Protest is over! Prokofiev                  …

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NICHOLAS MCGEGAN BRINGS THE BEST OF BACH AND HANDEL FOR BAROQUE CONNECTIONS

December 14, 2016  Pasadena, CA – Start your New Year off right with the Pasadena Symphony and Principal Guest Conductor Nicholas McGegan as he delivers Baroque Connections: Bach & Handel, on January 21, 2017 at Ambassador Auditorium. Highly regarded as “one of the finest baroque conductors of his generation” (London Independent), the two-time Grammy nominee will…

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2016-17 SYMPHONY CLASSICS TICKETS NOW ON SALE!

Season Subscriptions Still Available! Lock-in the best seats at the best price before they sell out.     MENDELSSOHN VIOLIN CONCERTO October 8, 2016 David Lockington, conductor Elena Urioste, violin Norman          The Great Swiftness Mendelssohn Violin Concerto Brahms          Symphony No. 4   GERSHWIN RHAPSODY IN BLUE November…

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TICKETS FOR THE 50TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY LOOK IN HOME TOUR NOW ON SALE!

December 2 & 3, 2017 Tour:  9:30 am – 4:00 pm Boutique: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Scottish Rite Cathedral, 150 N. Madison Avenue Pasadena, CA 91101 A self-guided tour of four elegant homes decorated for the holidays and an artisanal Holiday Boutique. The 50th Annual Holiday Look In home tour is a showcase of…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY APPOINTS DAVID CUBEK AS ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony Association announces the appointment of David Cubek as Assistant Conductor. David will also serve as the Conductor for the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Philharmonic ensemble. Mr. Cubek currently serves as Director of the Claremont Concert Orchestra of Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer and Scripps Colleges, and has served on the…

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DON’T MISS OPENING NIGHT OF THE SYMPHONY SEASON – OCTOBER 8!

Pasadena, CA – Music Director David Lockington and the Pasadena Symphony open the 2016-2017 Singpoli Classics Series with Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto on October 8, 2016 at Pasadena’s historic Ambassador Auditorium with matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm.  Audiences will delight in Mendelssohn’s most lyrical of violin concertos, book-ended by Brahms’ Symphony No. 4…

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2017 POPS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES LINE-UP ANNOUNCED!

2017 POPS Subscriptions are Now Available! Broadway: The Golden Age | June 17, 2017 MICHAEL FEINSTEIN, conductor Music from Jersey Boys and Beyond! | July 15, 2017 THE MIDTOWN MEN: Four Stars from the Original Broadway Cast of Jersey Boys LARRY BLANK, conductor Michael Feinstein Sings Swing| July 29, 2017 Celebrating Swing, the Rat Pack…

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PYSO ALUM JENNIFER FRAUTSCHI SELLS OUT THE AMBASSADOR FOR A THIRD CONSECUTIVE FULL HOUSE!

Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony continues its Singpoli Classics Series with Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto for a powerful and romantic Valentine’s program on Saturday, February 13 at Ambassador Auditorium. Music Director David Lockington returns to the podium for the Symphony’s ode to romance, which pairs Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 with Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. One of…

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HOLIDAY CANDLELIGHT SOLD OUT FOR THE 5TH YEAR IN A ROW!

Pasadena, CA – Pasadena Symphony’s annual Holiday Candlelight concert returns to All Saints Church on December 19, 2015. Having sold out the past four years in a row, the concert will offer two performances to meet community demand at 4:00 pm & 7:00 pm. The architecturally exquisite and acoustically sonorous All Saints Church, Pasadena’s equivalent…

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2016 POPS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES STARTS JUNE 18! SINGLE TICKETS NOW ON SALE.

2016 POPS Summer Series Line-up Announced! First Ladies of Song | June 18, 2016 Music from Judy Garland, Rosemary Clooney & Peggy Lee Michael Feinstein, Conductor Lynn Roberts, soloist Cady Huffman, soloist Madelyn Baillio, soloist Music of Billy Joel | July 9, 2016 Michael Cavanaugh, Soloist Star of Broadway’s hit musical Moving Out Larry Blank,…

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ANNE AKIKO MEYERS TO PERFORM HER #1 SELLING VIVALDI FOUR SEASONS NOVEMBER 7

Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony continues their newly-expanded 2015-2016 Singpoli Classics Series on Saturday, November 7th with Anne Akiko Meyers performing her poetic and powerful Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Billboard’s 2014 Top-Selling Classical Instrumentalist, Meyers’ recordings have consistently met with acclaim, with her Four Seasons debuting # 1 on the Classical Billboard charts. Audiences can…

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CLASSICS SEASON OPENS THIS WEEKEND WITH DVORAK’S NEW WORLD SYMPHONY!

Pasadena, CA – Music Director David Lockington and The Pasadena Symphony open their 2015-2016 Singpoli Classics Series with Dvořák’s New World Symphony on October 10, 2015 at Ambassador Auditorium with matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Audiences will delight in Dvořák’s most popular symphonic work. The orchestra will be joined by 2013 Avery…

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MOONLIGHT SONATA GALA TO BE HELD AT AMBASSADOR GARDENS SEPTEMBER 26!

Pasadena, CA – Join the Pasadena Symphony Association for an unforgettable evening of magic and romance on Saturday, September 26, 2015 as they host the Moonlight Sonata Gala at Ambassador Gardens. Their annual gala will take place on the opulent grounds of the Ambassador Gardens with entertainment and libations at the Terrace Villa Mansion, followed…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY FINISHES SEASON WITH SPECTACULAR GRIEG PIANO CONCERTO

Pasadena CA – The Pasadena Symphony concludes its exhilarating season with a bang on Saturday May 2, 2105. Hear award-winning Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Martinez performing the Greig’s hugely popular piano concerto and taste the rapture and romance of Romeo & Juliet as summoned up by one of the greatest Russian masters, Prokofiev on at Ambassador…

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PASADENA YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS ANNOUNCE AUDITIONS FOR THE 2016-2017 SEASON

Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestras (PYSO) invites all young musicians aged from 11-18 to audition for the PYSO’s upcoming 2016-2017 season. As a centerpiece of the Pasadena Symphony Association’s education initiatives, the PYSO program has continually offered robust musical training and personal development for young musicians throughout the San Gabriel Valley for…

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2015 Pops Season

An Incomparable Concert-Going Experience Awaits You June 20, 2015 – Big Band Swing July 11, 2015 – Classical Mystery Tour August 1, 2015 – The Sinatra Project August 22, 2015 – To Ella and Nat with Love September 12, 2015 – A Night at the Oscars!

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PASADENA SYMPHONY PRESENTS BEETHOVEN PASTORAL SYMPHONY NO. 6 WITH NICHOLAS MCGEGAN

Pasadena CA – Experience Beethoven’s love of nature with Nicholas McGegan as your guide with the Pasadena Symphony’s performance of Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony No. 6 on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Ambassador Auditorium with both matinee and evening performances at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The Los Angeles Times celebrated McGegan to be “in fact…

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PASADENA SYMPHONY 2015-2016 SINGPOLI CLASSICS TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena Symphony announces the expansion of its 2015-16 Season with an increase to seven concert weekends beginning Fall 2015. Backed by strong single ticket sales and subscriber loyalty, its Singpoli Classics series will increase to six-concerts (from five) with both 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. performances at Pasadena’s historic Ambassador Auditorium.…

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Pasadena POPS Presents New York! New York!

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN & PASADENA POPS END SUMMER CONCERT SEASON WITH PATTI AUSTIN, LIZ CALLAWAY AND AARON TVEIT Pasadena CA – Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS announce the final concert of the summer with a thrilling selection of music with New York New York! on September 6 at the LA Arboretum. Grammy Award winner and…

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Pasadena POPS Presents Hooray for Hollywood

ALAN BERGMAN, BRUCE BROUGHTON, MICHAEL GIACCHINO, MAUREEN MCGOVERN, PAUL WILLIAMS AND MORE TO PERFORM WITH MICHAEL FEINSTEIN AND THE PASADENA POPS AS PART OF ASCAP’S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Pasadena CA – A who’s who of Hollywood’s music elite is coming out to play with Michael Feinstein at the Pasadena POPS’ August 16th Hooray for Hollywood concert, presented in partnership with the American Society of…

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Pasadena Symphony Presents Beethoven’s Fifth

Dun Dun Dun Duuuuuuuun Pasadena Symphony Presents Beethoven’s Fifth Pasadena CA – The Pasadena Symphony celebrates the most famous four notes in all of Classical music. Relentless, emotional, triumphant and victorious; all describe Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 which will be performed on Saturday March 29, 2014 at Ambassador Auditorium with matinee and evening performances at…

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Michael Feinstein Extends Contract with Pasadena POPS Through 2016

Pasadena Symphony Association President Diane Rankin and Chief Executive Officer Paul Jan Zdunek today announced the extension of Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein’s contract through 2016. His current contract was for a 1-year term, but fresh off the heels with rave reviews for his conducting debut to capacity crowds on June 1st, the leadership of…

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Live Chat with Composer-in-Residence Peter Boyer – April 16 at 3pm

Experience a live chat with Pasadena Symphony’s Composer-in Residence Peter Boyer as he discusses the role of an orchestral composer. Audiences will also get a preview of Boyer’s Symphony No. 1, which will make its world premiere on Saturday, April 27 with the Pasadena Symphony. This event will be a live broadcast of a talk…

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Pasadena Symphony Performs World Premiere of Peter Boyer’s Symphony No. 1

The Pasadena Symphony will perform the highly anticipated world premiere of Grammy-nominated composer Peter Boyer’s Symphony No. 1 on Saturday April 27 in concerts at 2:00 and 8:00pm at Ambassador Auditorium. The concerts also feature superstar violinist Chee-Yun as soloist for the intensely passionate Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto under the baton of guest conductor Jose Luis…

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Pasadena Symphony Names David Lockington as New Music Director and Nicholas McGegan as Principal Guest Conductor

The Pasadena Symphony Association is proud to announce the appointment of David Lockington as its new Music Director and Nicholas McGegan as its Principal Guest Conductor, an innovative partnership of powerhouse artistic leadership. Lockington is the fifth Music Director of Pasadena’s 85-year-old treasured Symphony Orchestra. McGegan’s newly created position formalizes a synergistic relationship between the…

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James DePreist, 1936-2013

The Pasadena Symphony is saddened to learn about James DePreist’s sudden passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Ginette, his family, and his friends and colleagues. “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we mourn the passing of our dear friend and Artistic Advisor James DePreist.  Maestro DePreist, or Jimmy as he…

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Pasadena Symphony Presents JPL Chorus in their First Winter Concert

Pasadena’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory may be best known for its unparalleled scientific endeavors such as landing the Curiosity Rover on the surface of Mars, but on Tuesday, December 18, another side of the organization will be on display. The JPL Chorus, founded earlier this year in a partnership with the Pasadena Symphony Association, presents its…

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Refer a Friend and Save!

Do you know someone who has not yet experienced the Pasadena Symphony? If they order tickets and mention your name, we will send you a $20 coupon for a future ticket purchase! Call our Box Office today at (626) 793-7172 today for more details. This offer valid for any current ticket buyer who refers a…

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Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra to Perform a Free Winter Concert

The Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 41th season with a free annual Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 4th at 7:00pm in Pasadena High School’s auditorium (2925 E Sierra Madre Blvd, Pasadena). The performance features the three educational ensembles of the Pasadena Symphony Association: the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble. The…

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Michael Feinstein Named Principal Pops Conductor of Pasadena POPS

Marvin Hamlisch’s orchestral legacy of promoting The Great American Songbook continues in the expert hands of Michael Feinstein Michael Feinstein, the multi-platinum-selling, two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy-nominated entertainer dubbed “The Ambassador of The Great American Songbook,” is the newly appointed Principal Pops Conductor of the Pasadena POPS.  In addition to his recording and concert career,…

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Marvin Hamlisch, 1944-2012

The Pasadena Symphony and POPS are both shocked and devastated to learn about the sudden passing of Marvin Hamlisch. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Terre, his family, and his friends and colleagues. During his time in Pasadena, he was beloved in our community and made an enormous impact with everyone he encountered.…

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Rose & the Nightingale POPS Concert

Please note: these events are cancelled due to excessive heat. If we are able to reschedule, we will update you accordingly. Thank you, and we apologize for any inconvenience. The Spirit of the Garden POPS Concert Rose & the Nightingale, a powerhouse quartet of female virtuosi, celebrate the sublimity of gardens through poetry and song.…

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Pasadena Symphony and Jet Propulsion Lab Partner to Create JPL Chorus

Pasadena is a city rich with the arts and sciences, and the new JPL Chorus is perhaps the perfect blend of both. Formed earlier this year in partnership between the Pasadena Symphony Association and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the JPL Chorus is comprised of JPL employees who rehearse weekly under the direction of Donald Brinegar,…

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Don’t miss the GROW! A Garden Festival at the Arboretum on May 4-6

The weekend celebration of Spring will be a great and fun way to get acquainted with the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden, the beautiful new summer home for the POPS concert. There will be art installations, plants for sale, a Marketplace, live entertainment, food and much more to enjoy. Festivities begin Friday evening,…

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Tchaikovsky’s Fourth

“There is still happiness, simple, naïve happiness,” said Tchaikovsky of his Fourth Symphony. It was a breakthrough work, a bounding creative leap in scale, intensity, and ambition combining theatrical flair with emotional contrasts that reach epic proportions – music so personal that it becomes universal. Rachmaninoff International Award winning pianist Rueibin Chen performs his talisman,…

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Pasadena Symphony Announces 85th Anniversary Season with Russian Blockbusters, Award Winning Artists and a World Premiere

The Pasadena Symphony celebrates its 85th Anniversary Season with Russian blockbusters by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich and Borodin with must-see Artists and Conductors for its 2012-13 Classics Series at Pasadena’s own “Carnegie Hall of the West”, one of the finest concert halls in the nation – Ambassador Auditorium. The season opens on October 6, 2012 with…

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PYSO Silent Auction

Pre-bidding is now live for our Silent Auction fund raiser for the Pasadena Youth Symphony. Please see the bottom of this page for instructions and rules on how to bid. Live bidding will take place on Tuesday, December 6 at 5:30pm at Pasadena High School’s auditorium. Silent Auction Items: #101 – Revolution Prep SAT or…

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See photos from Marvin Does Broadway!

On August 6th, Marvin and the Pasadena POPS were joined by Cady Huffman (Ulla from The Producers) and Anne Runolfsson & Gary Mauer from Phantom of the Opera. Check out these pictures! (Photography by Robert Caughron)

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Gershwin on the Green

No one composer has ever captured the spirit of American music like George Gershwin.  The mere mention of his name evokes memories of the Jazz Age, The Roaring 20’s, flappers and a wealth of musicals that came from a creative imagination unmatched by his contemporaries.  These rhapsodic sounds, from opera to concert, Vaudeville to Broadway, …

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La Dolce Vita

Ah, summer!  And with summer comes the sweet life.  Enjoy the passionate sounds of Italy in this magnifico program delivered with the vocal prowess and seduction of pop-opera group Poperazzi performing hit songs from Pavarotti to Jersey Boys, classic Sinatra to Louis Prima and everything in between. It’s certain you’ll be speaking with your hands…

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Michael Feinstein in Concert

An artist who needs no description, the incomparable multi-platinum selling, five-time GRAMMY nominee, Michael Feinstein joins the Pasadena POPS for an effervescent evening of the music that defies the ages.  The Pittsburgh Herald-Tribune says “Michael Feinstein has won fame as singer and pianist, and affection too for reviving the Great American Songbook with devotion and…

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They’re Playing Our Song

The Pasadena POPS starts its inaugural season at the lavish LA Arboretum with the perfect blend of comedy, nostalgia and music! Robert Klein, recently hailed by Publisher’s Weekly as “an artist who unfurls an array of captivating anecdotes with wry wit and honesty,” and television sweetheart Lucie Arnaz, well-known for her electric charisma, perform together…

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Arboretum 2012!

The Pasadena POPS Concert Summer Series is moving to the beautiful L.A. County Arboretum beginning the summer of 2012! Any current Arboretum members or those attending any ticketed events at the Arboretum this summer may attend a 2011 Pasadena POPS concert for 50% off just by showing their membership card or ticket stub. “We want…

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Marvin Hamlisch’s Interview on The WAVE!

Marvin went to The WAVE studios with Pat & Kim to share his remarkable story and his exciting new concert series as the Principal Pops Conductor for the Pasadena Pops. Click here to hear the interview.

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See photos of Fireworks POPS Spectacular!

Were you there for the music, fun and fireworks? If not, you missed an amazing evening under the stars. We celebrated Pasadena’s 125th birthday in style. Check out a few photos from the concert…  

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Marvin Hamlisch Interview on KJazz 88.1

P.J. Ochlan from KJazz radio interviewed Marvin Hamlisch about taking the helm of the Pasadena POPS and the 2011 Summer Concert Series at the Lawn adjacent to the Rose Bowl. Click here to listen to the podcast! Pasadena POPS Summer Concert Series dates: June 18, 2011 July 23, 2011 August 6, 2011 August 27, 2011

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Marvin Does Movies and POPS for PUPS!

Join The Pasadena POPS and Marvin Hamlisch, Saturday, August 27th at the lawn adjacent to the Rose bowl!  We start the fun early with the Pasadena Humane Society who will be on hand with adorable pets up for adoption from 5pm-7pm. August 27th Concert Information: Marvin Does Movies Lawn adjacent to the Rose Bowl (Area…

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Pasadena POPS to perform with Idina Menzel and Marvin Hamlisch!

Tony Award-winning actress, singer and songwriter, Idina Menzel, star of Broadway’s Wicked and the original stage production of Rent, will make her Greek Theatre debut Saturday, October 22, 2011 with the Pasadena POPS. The special engagement will be conducted by multi-award-winning conductor/composer Marvin Hamlisch with the Pasadena POPS.  Menzel – who also appeared in the…

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PYSO on GLEE!

Did you see Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra backing up Lea Michele on Glee last night? They were amazing.  PYSO appears at the 27:32 in case you catch it online!

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Recipes in Rhapsody

Recipes in Rhapsody is a compilation of favorite recipes from our finest and most discriminating home chefs and area Cordon Bleu chefs. The 350 recipes are home cooked productions and family favorites from Women’s Committee Members, their families and Symphony-Pops Board of Directors. Many of the recipes are enriched with contributor notes regarding the importance…

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Pasadena Symphony Association Given $500,000 Gift!

The Pasadena Symphony Association is pleased to announce a $500,000 matching gift from the Women’s Committee, a combination of a $400,000 gift given to them by the late Beebe Oliver Nuetzman and the $100,000 proceeds of the 2010 Holiday Look In Home Tour.  A tireless volunteer and educator, Beebe continues to demonstrate her passion for…

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Oct. 23rd’s Sonic Sensations Concert!

Maestro James DePreist, Anne Akiko Meyers, that fabulous ex-Napoleon/Molitor Stradivarius and the Pasadena Symphony made Opening Night a night to remember. Check out a few of the photos taken by photographer Robert Caughron.

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Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers Interview

Anne talks about her new album Seasons…Dreams, which was released in September. Video #2: Anne Akiko Meyers Plays Gade’s ‘Jalousie’ Tango w/the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Holland

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Marvin Hamlisch appointed Principal Pasadena POPS Conductor

In the summer of 2011, Marvin Hamlisch will take the podium of the Pasadena POPS for the first time, bringing a musical experience like no other to the heart of Pasadena. His musical scores are among the most iconic and inspirational works in the world and have garnered 4 Emmys, 4 Grammys, 3 Golden Globes,…

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Rachael Worby concludes tenure with Pasadena POPS

After ten years as Music Director of the Pasadena POPS, Rachael Worby has announced that effective September 30, 2010, she will conclude her tenure with the organization. In a statement Rachael Worby said: “Being Music Director of the Pasadena POPS has been a joyful, fulfilling experience.  I wish the Pasadena Symphony – POPS all continued…

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Pasadena Symphony Welcomes Maestro James DePreist as Artistic Advisor

Building on the 25-year legacy of Maestro Jorge Mester, the Pasadena Symphony Association has named Maestro James DePreist – widely esteemed as one of America’s finest conductors – as its Artistic Advisor. Renowned for his work with the most prestigious symphony orchestras in the US, Europe and Asia, his transformation of the Oregon Symphony from…

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A Message from the President of the Board

To those of us with the Pasadena Symphony Association, it has been painful to see false impressions emerge about the departure of Jorge Mester, but perhaps the most painful is the misperception that Maestro Mester simply walked away from the orchestra he built and loved.  Negotiations were complex, and although both sides attempted to compromise, it…

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PSA Recovery Strategy

From a year of rebirth into one of resilience, the Pasadena Symphony and POPS has emerged like a phoenix out of the ashes. Click here to see a detailed outline of our recovery strategy.

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Mester Leads Final Concert as Music Director of the Pasadena Symphony

After a 25-year tenure with the Pasadena Symphony, the Association is saddened to report that it could not reach an agreement with its Music Director, Jorge Mester, on revised contract terms necessary for the continued success of the Recovery Plan for a Sustainable Future – a plan that has enabled the Pasadena Symphony Association to once…

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Pasadena Symphony and POPS move to two new venues!

The Pasadena Symphony and POPS inaugurate two world-renowned venues in its 2010/11 Season – the Lawn adjacent the Rose Bowl and the Ambassador Auditorium.  Embracing a distinctive concert experience, the Pasadena POPS return to the heart of Pasadena as it moves to the other Bowl – the Lawn adjacent the Rose Bowl.  Its inaugural concert…

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An Interview with Jack Taylor, PYSO Music Director

PSA: How long have you been the Music Director for PYSO? Jack: 6 Years PSA: What is your favorite part of your job? Jack: My favorite part of PYSO is being able to rehearse and converse with some of the most fun and intellectual young people I know. It is also very rewarding to see when…

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