Jason Alexander, Pink Martini, Lea Salonga and More Set for Cincinnati Pops' 2015-16 Season

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and Conductor John Morris Russell are delighted to announce the Pops' 2015-2016 season at Cincinnati Music Hall, the fifth under the direction of Mr. Russell. The season, presented by PNC along with the Pops Artist Series Sponsor, The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation, features exciting guest artist debuts, alongside the return of the best genres and artists that have built the Pops into an American icon.

Highlights of the season include the return of the enormously popular Holiday Pops concerts, this time with vocal ensemble New York Voices, the debut of comedian and Broadway star Jason Alexander, a tribute to Rosemary Clooney by the multi-talented Megan Hilty and performances of full orchestral scores live with classic films Back to the Future and Home Alone.

"This will be the 20th anniversary of my relationship with the Cincinnati Pops," said Mr. Russell. "I am thrilled to continue our tradition of bringing programs to Cincinnati that you just can't hear anyplace else. We celebrate great American music in all varieties and bring new classics to life. It's a joy to share the Music Hall stage with extraordinary guest artists-some old friends and many new ones-and to create magic with the finest Pops orchestra on the planet."

An opening concert weekend features Back to the Future, along with a second program dedicated to the most iconic Hollywood scores ever written. Capathia Jenkins, whose debut impressed Pops audiences with her soulful performance during a James Bond-themed program in 2012, returns for a program full of hits from R&B queens Whitney Houston, Diana Ross and more. Another program pays tribute to the greatest hits of Simon & Garfunkel, and "Disney Princess" Lea Salonga makes her Pops debut singing a program of Broadway hits. Other notable debuts include dynamic and witty ensemble Pink Martini performing alongside The von Trapps. The season closes with the one-night-only Pops debut of singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter.

The upcoming season also includes Pops debut of the biggest chart-topper in Christian music, Michael W. Smith, who performs a one-night-only concert of Christmas favorites. The popular Lollipops Family Concert series returns with three concerts, and the Orchestra rings in the new year with a Frank Sinatra-inspired New Year's Eve concert.

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2015-16 Cincinnati Pops Subscription Season at Music Hall:

Pops at the Movies
8 p.m. Friday, September 18
2 p.m. Sunday, September 20
Hollywood has produced some of the most powerful, exciting and poignant music ever written. For these concerts, Mr. Russell and the Pops will present some of the American Film Institute's Top 25 Scores, ranging from classics like Gone with the Wind and Lawrence of Arabia to blockbusters like E.T. and The Godfather. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite film score on the Pops' website in the months leading up to the concert. The winner will be performed in full orchestral splendor. (These concerts do not include video projections.)

Back to the Future: Film with Orchestra
8 p.m. Saturday, September 19
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 1985 sci-fi classic, the Pops performs Alan Silvestri's richly uplifting score live, conducted by Mr. Russell while the film projects in high definition on the screen above the Orchestra. Mr. Silvestri is adding 15 minutes of addiitonal material to these orchestral performances.

Sounds of Simon and Garfunkel
with AJ Swearingen and Jonathan Beedle
7 p.m. Sunday, October 4
The legendary folk rock artistry of Simon and Garfunkel defined a generation with such hits as "The Sounds of Silence," "Mrs. Robinson," "Scarborough Fair," and "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Vocalists AJ Swearingen and Jonathan Beedle pay tribute to the iconic duo, while the Pops (under the direction of guest conductor Michael Krajewski) provides remarkable orchestral color, taking these tunes to the next level.

Megan Hilty: Rosemary Clooney's Songbook
8 p.m. Friday, November 6
8 p.m. Saturday, November 7
2 p.m. Sunday, November 8
A true daughter of the Queen City, Rosemary Clooney took Hollywood by storm, leaving her warm smile and enchanting songbook to inspire generations to come. Broadway, television and film star Megan Hilty lends her powerful vocals to this concert full of lush arrangements of songs like "Sway" and "Mambo Italiano" that the world will always associate with Rosemary. Ms. Hilty stole hearts upon her return in January 2014, in a show voted Broadway World's "Best Special Theatre Event" in Cincinnati. A rare talent, Ms. Hilty has lent her voice to Broadway (most notably reprising the role of Glenda in Wicked), film and in television in the hit series Smash. Mr. Russell conducts this weekend of concerts.

Holiday Pops with New York Voices
8 p.m. Friday, December 11
8 p.m. Saturday, December 12
2 p.m. Sunday, December 13
The Orchestra's annual holiday spectacular (which frequently sells out) returns with the boundless enthusiasm and spirit of Mr. Russell. For these performances, the jazzy vocal ensemble New York Voices, featured on the Pops' latest holiday disc, Home for the Holidays (2012), brings its tight harmonies and perfect blend for concerts featuring classic holiday favorites and tunes from the group's ravely reviewed Christmas album, Let it Snow. Holiday Pops will also feature local singers and dancers adding energy and excitement to Cincinnati's favorite holiday tradition. The Orchestra is grateful to Graeter's for its generous sponsorship of Holiday Pops.

I'm Every Woman
8 p.m. Saturday, January 9, 2016
2 p.m. Sunday, January 10, 2016
Vocal knockout Capathia Jenkins, who wowed audience in a 2012 "Bond and Beyond" concert at Music Hall and again at Riverbend Music Center in 2013 for an evening of Motown, returns as the Pops celebrates the legacy of beloved gospel, R&B, soul and opera divas such as Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Marion Anderson and more. Selections such as "I Will Always Love You," "Respect," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "I'm Every Woman" provide the perfect vehicle for Ms. Jenkins to flaunt her incredible talent with Mr. Russell and the Pops. In addition to an active concert schedule, Ms. Jenkins can be seen on TV (30 Rock, The Sopranos, Law & Order and more), heard on film soundtracks (Chicago, Legally Blonde 2 and Nine), and performing in several Broadway and off-Broadway productions where she regularly brings down the house.

Pink Martini with special guests The von Trapps
7 p.m. Sunday, January 24, 2016
Bandleader Thomas Lauderdale describes Pink Martini as "a rollicking around-the-world musical adventure...if the United Nations had a house band in 1962, hopefully we'd be that band." The breadth of talent present in the multi- instrumental "little orchestra" lends itself to weave in and out of genres, blending perfectly with the big sound of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Pink Martini's recent collaborations with The von Trapps, who continue the family legacy brought to life in The Sound of Music, have resulted in delightfully whimsical recordings and performances. This cosmopolitan, multi-lingual performance will be conducted by frequent Pops guest, Steven Reineke.

Jason Alexander: An Evening of Comedy and Song
8 p.m. Friday, March 4, 2016
8 p.m. Saturday, March 5, 2016
2 p.m. Sunday, March 6, 2016
Though known to the world as George Costanza on the nine-season hit television series Seinfeld, Jason Alexander has proven time and again that his talents reach far beyond the TV studio. His myriad television and film credits rocketed him to stardom, but his acting career began on Broadway, where he earned a Tony Award for his role in Jerome Robbins' Broadway. His versatility will shine with the Pops and Mr. Russell in three evenings of song, dance and comedy as he shares his passion for musical theater. Selections from Pippen, The Music Man, Merrily We Roll Along and more provide the backbone for an energetic, carefree concert program.

Magical Music of Broadway with Lea Salonga
8 p.m. Friday, April 22, 2016
8 p.m. Saturday, April 23, 2016
2 p.m. Sunday, April 24, 2016
A real-life Disney princess graces the Pops stage in a debut under the direction of Mr. Russell. The Pops is known around the world for its lush, energetic performances of the music of Broadway. Bringing extra magic to the stage this time will be Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga. Though known as the singing voice two Disney princesses (Aladdin's Jasmine and Mulan's Fa Mulan), Ms. Salonga's enchanting stage presence and bubbling personality has delighted live audiences around the globe since she burst onto the scene as Kim in Miss Saigon. In addition to selections from Into the Woods, Les Miserables and Wicked, Ms. Salonga, Mr. Russell and the Pops will surely delight kids and adults with the famous songs of some of Disney's most beloved princesses and heroines.

Mary Chapin Carpenter
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, 2016
The Pops is thrilled to welcome multi-platinum album selling, five-time Grammy winner, two-time CMA Female Vocalist, and member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Mary Chapin Carpenter, to the Music Hall stage. Her first two albums hit the country charts hard with songs like "Down at the Twist and Shout," though her 1992 album, Come On Come On, broke her own records with "The Hard Way" and "He Thinks He'll Keep Her." Her latest album, Songs From The Movie, was recorded with orchestra and choir and reprises ten of her songs in distinctively beautiful and cinematic arrangements, demonstrating her remarkable versatility and making it the perfect avenue of collaboration with the Pops.

Other 2015-2016 Pops Concerts:

Lollipops Family Concerts
The Pops will again present a three-concert series of Lollipops Family Concerts scheduled for Saturday mornings. These concerts, geared towards children ages 3 to 10 and their families, serve as an opportunity to introduce young people to the joys of orchestral music. Pre-concert activities in the Music Hall Ballroom are fun and instructional preludes the concert and include arts and crafts, demonstrations, photo booths, and the ever-popular "instrument playground."

The first of these concerts, Symphony Spooktacular on October 31, provides a musical preview to the spooky and silly fun of Halloween. On February 6, 2016, Dance Party, gets kids moving and shows that the Orchestra can be just as fun as a DJ. Finally on April 16, 2016, Celebrate Earth! brings to life some of the "greenest" music ever written with compositions that invoke joy and delight in nature. More details on these concerts will be available at cincinnatipops.org/lollipops.

Home Alone: Film with Orchestra
Audiences will kick off the holiday season on Saturday, November 28 at 7 p.m. with one of the most iconic holiday movies of all time, Home Alone. While little Kevin hilariously fights off would-be burglars after he is accidentally left behind by his family on Christmas Eve, the Cincinnati Pops will perform John Williams' beloved score live while the movie projects in high definition above the Orchestra.

Christmas with Michael W. Smith
On Tuesday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith makes his Pops debut. Throughout his decades-long career, Mr. Smith has shaped the contemporary Christian landscape with more than 15 million albums sold, 28 No. 1 hits, three Grammy Awards and more than 40 Dove Awards. During this one-night-only performance, he and the Pops, under the direction of guest conductor David Hamilton, will perform songs from his four hit Christmas albums, as well as traditional favorites.

New Year's Eve 2015: Fly Me to the Moon
Continuing a worldwide tradition of spirited New Year's Eve orchestral concerts, the Pops, under guest conductor Damon Gupton, puts its own spin on some of Frank Sinatra's most iconic hits. The debonair vocalist Tony DeSare pays tribute to "Ol' Blue Eyes" with songs like "Fly Me to the Moon," "You Make Me Feel So Young," and more, ringing in 2016 in suave style.

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Season subscriptions for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra 2015-2016 season are available beginning Monday, February 9, 2015. Subscribers receive discounts, preferred seating, flexible ticket exchange and other benefits. Subscription packages start at just $115. Single tickets go on sale to the general public July 31, 2015. Single ticket prices for most concerts begin at $25. Visit cincinnatipops.org for complete information or contact the Cincinnati Pops Sales Office at (513) 381-3300.

About John Morris Russell, conductor - A remarkable artist with boundless enthusiasm for music-making of all kinds, John Morris Russell is a modern conductor who engages and enthralls audiences with the full breadth of the orchestral experience. Currently in his fourth season as Conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Mr. Russell's diverse programming and electric stage presence have infused new creativity and energy into one of the world's most iconic pops orchestras.

Consistently winning international praise for his extraordinary music-making and visionary leadership, this Ohio native is also Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra in South Carolina where Mr. Russell's commitment has yielded a new level of artistic excellence. A popular guest conductor throughout the United States and Canada, he also holds the title of Conductor Laureate with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra in Ontario, Canada, where he served as Music Director for eleven years.

With the Cincinnati Pops, Mr. Russell regularly leads sold-out performances at Cincinnati's Music Hall. Additionally, he conducts the Pops at the Riverbend Music Center and in concerts throughout the Greater Cincinnati region and on tour. Mr. Russell has collaborated with generations of great performers including the late Ray Charles and Rosemary Clooney, as well as Idina Menzel, Vince Gill, Branford Marsalis, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Megan Hilty, Michael McDonald, George Takei, Amy Grant, Brian Wilson, Katharine McPhee and Marvin Winans.

His first three recordings released with the Cincinnati Pops on the Orchestra's Fanfare Cincinnati label, Home for the Holidays Superheroes!, and Carnival of the Animals all appeared on the Billboard charts. A fourth recording, recorded live during the Orchestra's enormously popular American Originals concerts in January 2015, is due in summer 2015. In December 2014, Mr. Russell led the Cincinnati Pops on a Florida tour, the first tour since the Pops performed in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics under the late Cincinnati Pops founder Erich Kunzel.

A sought-after guest conductor across the continent, Mr. Russell returned to the Hollywood Bowl in summer of 2014 to conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic for a trio of concerts. Other recent engagements include the New York Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, among many other ensembles. Across the Atlantic, he conducted the Strauss Festival Orchestra at Vienna's famed Musikverein, featuring the Harlem Boychoir, the Vienna Choir Boys and the late actor Gregory Peck. The performance was recorded for DVD and televised throughout Europe, Japan and in the United States on PBS.

From 1995 to 2006, Mr. Russell was Associate Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra. He also served as Associate Conductor of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, Director of the Orchestral Program at Vanderbilt University, and Music Director with the College Light Opera Company in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

He received a Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Williams College in Massachusetts. He has also studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England, the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado, and the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors in Hancock, Maine.

About The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra - The Cincinnati Pops is the alter ego of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, performing a diverse array of musical styles, all bathed in the world-renowned "Cincinnati Sound." The Pops was officially founded in 1977 and just since 1980, the Orchestra has sold ten million recordings around the planet.

The growing list of celebrated artists who have collaborated with the Pops include Ella Fitzgerald, Frederica von Stade, Doc Severinsen, Henry Mancini, Mel Torme, Kristin Chenoweth, Jennifer Holliday, Vanessa Williams, Dave Brubeck, The Temptations, John Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Mandy Patinkin, George Takei, Boyz II Men, Bernadette Peters, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The Pops tours nationally and internationally, most recently performing in Beijing as part of the Opening Festivities of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. In 2005, the Pops completed a historic tour to China and Singapore performing in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The Cincinnati Pops was the first U.S. Pops orchestra to perform in China, and also has appeared to enthusiastic audiences in New York's Carnegie Hall, in Washington D.C. and in Japan and Taiwan.

Following that first historic tour to China, a 2005 editorial in The Cincinnati Enquirer said the tour had "put an exclamation mark on our orchestra's phenomenal popularity in China, cultivated through its dozens of recordings. For residents of Greater Cincinnati, this success ought to underscore the fact that even among our region's wealth of cultural treasures, the Pops represents a unique resource that no other city can quite match."

An estimated 30 million people have viewed national telecasts of the Cincinnati Pops on PBS and the Orchestra has more than 100 available recordings, 55 of which have appeared on the Billboard charts, a record unmatched by any other orchestra. The Pops' Copland: Music of America won a Grammy in 1997, and four other Pops recordings have been nominated for Grammy Awards.

Mr. Russell's first three recordings released with the Cincinnati Pops on the Orchestra's Fanfare Cincinnati label, Home for the Holidays Superheroes!, and Carnival of the Animals all appeared on the Billboard charts. A fourth recording, recorded live during the Orchestra's enormously popular American Originals concerts in January 2015, is due in summer 2015. In December 2014, Mr. Russell led the Cincinnati Pops on a Florida tour, the first tour since the Pops performed in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics under the late Cincinnati Pops founder Erich Kunzel.

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