Capathia Jenkins & Darius de Haas Join Houston Symphony for Pops Concert, Now thru 10/6

Tonight, October 4 and October 5 & 6, Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski alongside superstar guest vocalists Capathia Jenkins and Darius de Haas will join the Houston Symphony for an evening of smooth grooves, easy rhythms and timeless top 40 hits.

Audiences will hear music from the kings and queens of classic soul, including Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, JAmes Brown, Roberta Flack, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. With songs like "Natural Woman," "You are Everything," "Respect," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours" and "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," Jones Hall is sure to be full of rhythm from this iconic musical era. Showcasing local talent, Houston-based vocalists Kam Franklin, Lisa Harris and Lucas Gorham will perform as back-up singers on many of the evening's hit songs.

Cynthia WoodS MITCHELL POPS AT JONES HALL SERIES
Jones Hall
615 Louisiana St.
Houston, TX 77002
TONIGHT, October 4, 2013, 8:00 PM
Saturday, October 5, 2013, 8:00 PM
Sunday, October 6, 2013, 7:30 PM
Classic Soul
Michael Krajewski, conductor
Capathia Jenkins, vocalist
Darius de Haas, vocalist
Tickets: from $29

Known for his entertaining programs and wry sense of humor, Michael Krajewski is a much sought after conductor of symphonic pops concerts. Now in his 14th season in Houston, he joined the Houston Symphony as Principal Pops Conductor at the beginning of the 2000-01 season and holds the same position with the Jacksonville Symphony and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Krajewski was named Music Director of the The Philly POPS in November 2012.

Much in demand as a guest conductor with orchestras across the country, Krajewski has performed with the Boston Pops and the Hollywood Bowl orchestras and has collaborated with an eclectic group of artists including flutist James Galway, mezzo soprano Marilyn Horne, pop artists Roberta Flack, Judy Collins, Art Garfunkel, Doc Severinsen, Al Hirt, Cab Calloway, Mary Wilson, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Pink Martini and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

With degrees from Wayne State University in Detroit and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Michael furthered his training at the Pierre Monteux Domaine School for Conductors. He was a Dorati Fellowship Conductor with the Detroit Symphony and later served as that orchestra's assistant conductor. He was resident conductor of the Florida Symphony and for eleven years served as music director of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra.

Brooklyn-born and raised actress Capathia Jenkins most recently starred as Medda in the hit Disney production of Newsies on Broadway. She made her Broadway debut in The Civil War, where she created the role of Harriet Jackson. She then starred in the Off-Broadway 2000 revival of Godspell,where she wowed audiences with her stirring rendition of "Turn Back, O Man," which can still be heard on the original cast recording. She returned to Broadway in The Look of Love and was critically acclaimed for her performances of the Bacharach/David hits. Ms. Jenkins then created the roles of The Washing Machine in Caroline, Or Change and Frieda May in Martin Short-Fame becomes me where she sang "Stop the Show" and brought the house down every night.

In 2007, she went back to Off-Broadway and starred in (mis) Understanding Mammy-The Hattie McDaniel Story for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. Most recently, she was seen in Nora Ephron's Love, Loss, and What I Wore.

An active concert artist, Ms. Jenkins has appeared with orchestras around the world including the Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony (with Marvin Hamlisch), National Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Memphis Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Kansas City Symphony, San Diego Symphony and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. She was also a soloist with the Festival Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. In 2011, Ms. Jenkins had the great honor of performing in the Broadway Ambassadors to Cuba concert as part of the Festival De Teatro De La Habana. This December, Ms. Jenkins will be the guest soloist with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops and will make her debut this season with the Cincinnati Pops.

Her Television credits include 30 Rock, The Practice, Law & Order SVU, The Sopranos, and Law & Order. She can be seen in the 2012 film Musical Chairs directed by Susan Seidelman and heard on the film soundtracks to Nine, Chicago and Legally Blonde 2.

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