Spring parks concerts series kick off this weekend

Arizona Symphonic Winds kicks off its 33rd Music in the Park season on Saturday, May 12, at Udall Park.

The following weekend at Reid Park, Tucson Pops Orchestra opens its 64th Music Under the Stars springtime series.

Both are under the baton of László Veres, who curates, coordinates and conducts both ensembles in the springtime and fall parks series. The Winds are Veres’ volunteer orchestra ensemble; the Pops are a professional group comprised of musicians from the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and the University of Arizona.

The Winds perform Saturdays May 12 through June 2 at Udall Park’s László Veres Amphitheater, 7600 E. Tanque Verde Road. The Pops perform Sundays, May 13 through June 10 at Reid Park’s DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, East 22nd Street and South Country Club Road. Admission is free, although donations are accepted. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. and seating is on the lawn; bring a blanket or a chair.

Here’s the lineup for both series:

Music in the Park

(facebook.com/ArizonaSymphonicWinds)

May 12 — “Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto” featuring TSO violinist Joseph Rousos-Hammond. Also on the program: the Tucson March.
May 19 — “László Veres’ Favorites” — Selections include Rossini’s bubbly Barber of Seville overture; tribute to the Big Band era; Sonoran Celebrations and others including March László.
May 26 — Veres dons his best J.P. Sousa outfit and demeanor for the annual “An Evening with John Philip Sousa.” Also on the program: Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Trumpets featuring Andre Veres and Kenny Saufley, “Clarinet Candy” performed by a group of outstanding high school clarinet players.
June 2 — “Stars of the Future,” featuring Mountain View High School seniors trumpeter Mason Christofferson and clarinetist Quinton Nickum.

Music Under the Stars

(tucsonpops.org)

May 13 — Mother’s Day with the Catalina Foothills High Falcon Steel Band. Program includes Albeniz’s “Sevilla” and “My Yiddishe Momme” in honor of the mothers in the audience.
May 20 — Dynamic vocal duo Katherine Byrnes and Crystal Stark will share the stage to honor the late Regina Miller, a longtime supporter and fan of the Tucson Pops. The program includes Byrnes singing “Le Jazz Hot” and “Little Girl Blue,” and Stark performing “Orange Colored Sky” and “Unbreak My Heart,” before they join for a couple duets — “Tell Him” and “No More Tears, Enough is Enough.”
May 27 — Memorial Day Weekend with guitar virtuoso Pete Fine playing his original composition, “Fairy Tale, An Imaginary Ballet.” Jack Neubeck will recite the “We Mutually Pledge” from the Declaration of Independence.
June 3 — The Pops are paying tribute to the late Leonard Bernstein with the Overture from “Candide,” “West Side Story,” “Symphonic Dances” and “The Wrong Note Rag.” Also on the program: University High School senior Sophia Rightmer, a 17-year-year old cellist, will perform Dvorák’s Concerto for Cello.
June 10 — Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture as well as selections from “Miss Saigon,” “La Bamba,” “Salute to the Cinema” and more.

Cool to this year’s pops: The local Food Truck Roundup will park a few trucks at the park to provide picnic fare. Details: facebook.com/pg/tucsonpops.