Edelman, Luker & More Join NY Pops Tribute For Strouse 4/3

The New York Pops presents Once Upon a Time and Tomorrow: The Best of Charles Strouse at Carnegie Hall on Friday, April 3 at 8:00 PM with conductor Martin Yates. This concert is a tribute to the Tony Award-winning composer of Annie, Applause and Bye Bye Birdie. Accompanying The New York Pops will be guest artists Gregg Edelman, Debbie Gravitte, Rebecca Luker, Karen Mason, Emma Rowley and Eric Jordan Young. The Young People's Chorus of New York City, directed by Francisco Núñez, will also be featured in the evening's program.

At age 80, Charles Strouse has enjoyed over 50 years of composing award-winning popular music. He has written the score to over 30 stage musicals, 14 scores for Broadway, four Hollywood films, two orchestral works and an opera. He has been inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Theatre Hall of Fame. He is a three-time Tony Award winner, a two-time Emmy Award winner, and his cast recordings have earned him two Grammy Awards. Mr. Strouse will attend the April 3 tribute and make a special appearance with The New York Pops.

Martin Yates has a career with a broad range of repertoire and genre. Starting his conducting career with the Israel National Opera, after two seasons he moved on to some of the UK's most respected orchestras. Yates has a passion for ballet and has worked with the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden. Yates has recorded symphonic repertoire with orchestras such as the RoyAl Scottish National Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony and Royal Flanders Philharmonic. Current releases include a series of recordings of the music of Richard Arnell with the RoyAl Scottish National Orchestra in addition to his extensive catalogue of musicals recordings. April 3 marks his first time conducting with The New York Pops and his Carnegie Hall debut.

Mr. Yates will be joined by seven Broadway stars. Stephen Bogardus was nominated for a Tony for his leading role in Love! Valour! Compassion! and recently starred in Irving Berlin's White Christmas on Broadway. Gregg Edelman's stage experience includes 14 Broadway shows with four Tony nominations, two Outer Critics nominations and one Drama Desk Award to his credit. Debbie Gravitte won a Tony Award for her role in Jerome Robbin's Broadway. She has also has sung with orchestras and symphonies around the country. Rebecca Luker is a Tony-nominee for her portrayals as Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins, and Marian Paroo in the revival of The Music Man. Karen Mason is a nine-time Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs award winner, and has been awarded the female vocalist of the year six consecutive times. She has previously headlined at Carnegie Hall, and was recently in the Tony Award-winning show Hairspray. Emma Rowley is known for her role Baby Louise in the most recent revival of Gypsy starring Patti LuPone. Eric Jordan Young is best known for his roles of Billy Flynn in Chicago and the original Wickersham Brother in Suessical the Musical.

The Young People's Chorus of New York City has distinguished itself as one of the finest youth choruses in the world. Founded by its artistic director Francisco Núñez in 1988, the YPC annually serves more than 1,000 young people from the New York City area from ages 7-18. The Young People's Chorus of New York City has won five gold medals in the world Choir Olympics and is a recognized leader in demonstrating a strong commitment to urban artist youth. The Young People's Chorus of New York is in residence at the 92nd Street Y, Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center and WNYC - New York Public Radio.

Following the intermission, William H. Macy will present the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation Award to five outstanding music teachers. The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation donated new and refurbished instruments to underserved schools, community music programs, and individual students nationwide.