NY Pops 27th Season To Feature Wayne Brady, Music Of Mercer, Lerner & Loewe And More

Conductor Steven Reineke begins his tenure as Music Director of The New York Pops when the orchestra starts its 27th season at Carnegie Hall this coming fall. The New York Pops five-concert subscription series opens on Friday, October 9, 2009 at 8:00PM in Stern Auditorium.

Season Schedule:

Friday, October 9, 2009, 8:00PM - Carnegie Hall

Wayne Brady's Sammy and Sam: A Tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr. and Sam Cooke

The first concert of the season features the best-loved songs of Sammy Davis, Jr. and Sam Cooke, performed by The New York Pops under the direction of Music Director Steven Reineke. The concert opens with a premiere: New York Fanfare, composed by Steven Reineke on commission from The New York Pops. Emmy-winning comedian, singer, and television personality Wayne Brady makes his Carnegie Hall debut. Best known for his performances on NBC's Whose Line is it Anyway?, Brady made his Broadway premiere playing Billy Flynn in Chicago. He recently released his debut R&B album on Peak Records, A Long Time Coming.

Friday, November 20, 2009, 8:00PM - Carnegie Hall

Too Marvelous for Words: A Johnny Mercer Centennial Concert

The New York Pops celebrates the centenary of the birth of lyricist and composer Johnny Mercer on November 20. Joining conductor Steven Reineke and the orchestra are singer/pianist Ann Hampton Callaway, known for starring in the hit Broadway musical "SWING!" and international actress, dancer, and opera singer N'Kenge. Together with other artists to be announced, they will perform treasured compositions from the vast Johnny Mercer songbook. Highlights include "Dream," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Moon River," and countless other standards of the American Songbook.

Friday and Saturday, December 18 and 19, 2009, 8:00PM - Carnegie Hall

Celebrate the Holidays with Sandi Patty!

Sandi Patty helps The New York Pops celebrate the holidays in this festive program of seasonal favorites. Known to many as simply "The Voice," Patty holds five Grammy Awards, 39 Dove Awards, and has been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. The Young People's Chorus of New York City, directed by Francisco Núñez, will join the orchestra. Guest conductor John Morris Russell, Music Director of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, leads the annual holiday concert, one of Carnegie Hall's most popular December traditions.

Friday, March 12, 2010, 8:00PM - Carnegie Hall

Celtic Music: A St. Patrick's Day Celebration

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, the renowned Irish vocalists Méav and Ronan Tynan sing with The New York Pops. The former star of Celtic Woman and the beloved Irish tenor headline a celebration of favorite Celtic music. Also appearing will be violinist Liz Knowles and Uilleann piper Kieran O'Hare. Music Director Steven Reineke conducts.

Friday, April 16, 2010, 8:00PM - Carnegie Hall

The Best of Lerner and Loewe

The New York Pops celebrates the timeless music of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe with the stars of the Tony award-winning Broadway revival South Pacific, Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot. O'Hara made her Broadway debut in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and has since starred in Pajama Game and Light in the Piazza. Tony award-winning Szot has performed with the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. Conductor Steven Reineke and The New York Pops are joined by The Clurman Singers, directed by Judith Clurman.

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 was founded in 1983 by former NBC Music Director Skitch Henderson.

Subscriptions are available to the 2009-2010 Carnegie Hall series, starting at $145 for five concerts. Visit the Carnegie Hall Box Office, 57th Street and 7th Avenue, or call CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800 to purchase tickets. Visit www.carnegiehall.org for more information. Single tickets will be available to the public beginning September 10, 2009 and are priced from $33 to $104.

Delta Air Lines is the official airline of The New York Pops.

The New York Pops is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely through the generosity of individual donations, institutional grants, and concert income. Dates, artists and programs are subject to change.

For more information, visit www.newyorkpops.org.