Skitch Henderson News

Peter Nero and the Philly Pops® celebrates the magic of movie music with Hooray for Hollywood! This special concert event honors the captivating movie music that has the uncanny ability to transport us to another place and time.

On Monday, April 27, at 7:00pm in Carnegie Hall, The New York Pops honored Feinstein's at Loews Regency on its tenth anniversary and congratulates Michael Feinstein and Jonathan Tisch for leading this great New York institution.

Legendary cabaret and jazz entertainer talks about preserving the Great American Songbook and today's honor by the New York Pops.

The concert will feature The New York Pops conducted by Steven Reineke, Music Director-Designate. The most recent additions to the program are Barbara Cook, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Tony Martin, who join a star-studded lineup of performers that includes Cheyenne Jackson, Brian d'Arcy James, Idina Menzel, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Anika Noni Rose, Ashford & Simpson, and Michael Feinstein.

The concert will feature The New York Pops conducted by Steven Reineke, Music Director-Designate. The most recent additions to the program are Barbara Cook, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Tony Martin, who join a star-studded lineup of performers that includes Cheyenne Jackson, Brian d'Arcy James, Idina Menzel, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Anika Noni Rose, Ashford & Simpson, and Michael Feinstein.

The New York Pops has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The grant, awarded in the category 'Access to Artistic Excellence,' will support Once Upon a Time and Tomorrow: The Best of Charles Strouse, a concert celebrating the 80th birthday of the Tony Award-winning Broadway composer. The performance will provide the opportunity to explore the works of this time-honored American composer whose talent has advanced the art of musical theater and touched the hearts of music-lovers for generations. The New York Pops holds the unique distinction of being the only symphonic pops orchestra in the country to receive an award from the NEA in the category of 'Access to Artistic Excellence.'

On Saturday March 14, at 8 PM, the Riverdale Y will present a quartet of internationally known jazz performers. Nicki Parrott, jazz bassist and vocalist is making her second appearance at the Y. She will be joined by Derek Smith, the world's most recorded commercial/jazz pianist; Randy Sandke, noted trumpeter, composer and arranger, whom The Wall Street Journal dubbed 'the greatest trumpeter nobody knows'; and Joe Ascione, who has joined the three in concert on his birthday! Ms. Parrott, who plays regularly with legendary Les Paul at Manhattan's Iridium Club came to New York from her native Australia in 1994 on an Arts Council Grant to study with acclaimed bassist Rufus Reid. She has performed all over the world with jazz greats like Ken Peplowski, Bucky Pizarelli, Skitch Henderson and Warren Vache. She appears at major jazz festivals throughout the US and abroad and is a favorite on the cruise ship circuit. She also plays Klezmer music and appeared at the Riverdale Y last year with noted Klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals as well as touring Europe with David Krakeur. Randy Sandke has also appeared in clubs and festivals worldwide and is known for his virtuosity. He has recorded over 20 albums with musicians ranging from Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway and Dick Hyman to Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Art Garfunkle and Barbara Carroll. His work has been heard on the soundtracks of many well known films including five Woody Allen pictures. As a composer he has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and his works have been featured at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fischer Hall; more than 50 of his compositions have been recorded.

The New York Pops celebrates its 26th season with the arrival of new Music Director Steven Reineke. Combining Broadway and Hollywood, holidays and history, The Pops is a perennial crowd-pleaser that embraces 'American popular music in all its diversity' (Playbill). One of the many highlights is Emmy winner Wayne Brady, who joins The Pops in a tribute to two American icons: Sammy Davis Jr. and Sam Cooke. Series Events Fri, Oct 9, 2009 at 8 PM THE NEW YORK POPS Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage Steven Reineke, Music Director and Conductor Wayne Brady, Guest Artist The Emmy-winning comedian, singer and television personality stars in a tribute to two American icons.

On Saturday March 14, at 8 PM, the Riverdale Y will present a quartet of internationally known jazz performers. Nicki Parrott, jazz bassist and vocalist is making her second appearance at the Y. She will be joined by Derek Smith, the world's most recorded commercial/jazz pianist; Randy Sandke, noted trumpeter, composer and arranger, whom The Wall Street Journal dubbed 'the greatest trumpeter nobody knows'; and Joe Ascione, who has joined the three in concert on his birthday! Ms. Parrott, who plays regularly with legendary Les Paul at Manhattan's Iridium Club came to New York from her native Australia in 1994 on an Arts Council Grant to study with acclaimed bassist Rufus Reid. She has performed all over the world with jazz greats like Ken Peplowski, Bucky Pizarelli, Skitch Henderson and Warren Vache. She appears at major jazz festivals throughout the US and abroad and is a favorite on the cruise ship circuit. She also plays Klezmer music and appeared at the Riverdale Y last year with noted Klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals as well as touring Europe with David Krakeur. Randy Sandke has also appeared in clubs and festivals worldwide and is known for his virtuosity. He has recorded over 20 albums with musicians ranging from Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway and Dick Hyman to Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Art Garfunkle and Barbara Carroll. His work has been heard on the soundtracks of many well known films including five Woody Allen pictures. As a composer he has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and his works have been featured at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fischer Hall; more than 50 of his compositions have been recorded.

Following concert tours across Canada and the US, tenor Ken Lavigne, Canada's acclaimed crossover classical singer will make his New York debut in Ken Lavigne in Concert on Thursday, January 22nd (8PM) at New York's legendary Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage --154 West 57th Street). Presented by Goodnight Gracie Entertainment and accompanied by the acclaimed 51 piece New York Pops Orchestra, Mr. Lavigne's exciting blend of classical tenor sound with modern style will showcase to New York audiences his singular vocal talent, which has been met with ovations across Canada.

Following concert tours across Canada and the US, tenor Ken Lavigne, Canada's acclaimed crossover classical singer will make his New York debut in Ken Lavigne in Concert on Thursday, January 22nd (8PM) at New York's legendary Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage --154 West 57th Street). Presented by Goodnight Gracie Entertainment and accompanied by the acclaimed 51 piece New York Pops Orchestra, Mr. Lavigne's exciting blend of classical tenor sound with modern style will showcase to New York audiences his singular vocal talent, which has been met with ovations across Canada.

Following concert tours across Canada and the US, tenor Ken Lavigne, Canada's acclaimed crossover classical singer will make his New York debut in Ken Lavigne in Concert on Thursday, January 22nd (8PM) at New York's legendary Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage --154 West 57th Street). Presented by Goodnight Gracie Entertainment and accompanied by the acclaimed 51 piece New York Pops Orchestra, Mr. Lavigne's exciting blend of classical tenor sound with modern style will showcase to New York audiences his singular vocal talent, which has been met with ovations across Canada.

Counted among the world's elite classical performers, The King's Singers with conductor Rob Fisher will join The New York Pops in the orchestra's 20th annual holiday celebration at Carnegie Hall on Friday, December 19 and Saturday, December 20 at 8:00 PM. Entitled A King's Singers Holiday, the concert will include countless time-honored carols to ring in this sentimental season along with treasured songs by Irving Berlin, Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. Mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne will make a guest appearance on the program.

The Board of Directors of The New York Pops and CEO James M. Johnson announced today the appointment of conductor Steven Reineke as the orchestra's Music Director, effective October 1, 2009. Mr. Reineke, who conducted The New York Pops' 25th Birthday Gala at Carnegie Hall earlier this year, succeeds the organization's founder, Skitch Henderson, who died in 2005. The announcement concludes an extensive three-year search by the orchestra and was unanimously supported by the musicians on the search committee and the Board of Directors.

Following concert tours across Canada and the US, tenor Ken Lavigne, Canada's acclaimed crossover classical singer will make his New York debut in Ken Lavigne in Concert on Thursday, January 22nd (8PM) at New York's legendary Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage --154 West 57th Street). Presented by Goodnight Gracie Entertainment and accompanied by the acclaimed 51 piece New York Pops Orchestra, Mr. Lavigne's exciting blend of classical tenor sound with modern style will showcase to New York audiences his singular vocal talent, which has been met with ovations across Canada.

The New York Pops has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The grant, awarded in the category 'Access to Artistic Excellence,' will support Once Upon a Time and Tomorrow: The Best of Charles Strouse, a concert celebrating the 80th birthday of the Tony Award-winning Broadway composer. The performance will provide the opportunity to explore the works of this time-honored American composer whose talent has advanced the art of musical theater and touched the hearts of music-lovers for generations. The New York Pops holds the unique distinction of being the only symphonic pops orchestra in the country to receive an award from the NEA in the category of 'Access to Artistic Excellence.'

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre. Lea Thompson and Patrick Cassidy join Vicki Lewis and Jason Alexander. 'I Love My Wife' will be directed by Larry Moss with choreography by Lee Martino and music direction by Michael Skloff.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre.

Counted among the world's elite classical performers, The King's Singers with conductor Rob Fisher will join The New York Pops in the orchestra's 20th annual holiday celebration at Carnegie Hall on Friday, December 19 and Saturday, December 20 at 8:00 PM. Entitled A King's Singers Holiday, the concert will include countless time-honored carols to ring in this sentimental season along with treasured songs by Irving Berlin, Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. Mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne will make a guest appearance on the program.

The New York Pops led by Vincent Falcone and Eric Stern, celebrated its hometown on Friday, November 7th at Carnegie Hall in a program entitled 'A Love Letter to New York' featuring classic songs about New York City and the world premieres of original songs about the city by composer Kenneth Laub.