For the first time in the 61 years it has hosted its “Music Under the Stars” concert series, the Tucson Pops Orchestra won’t be setting up on the DeMeester Outdoor Pavilion stage on Sunday nights this month.
The orchestra’s series of three to four concerts, which should have kicked off Labor Day weekend, has been streamlined to just one concert to be held Oct. 5, courtesy of renovations to the Reid Park bandshell.
The series has been an annual event in the fall and spring since 1964.
Meanwhile, Arizona Symphonic Winds, under founder and Music Director László Veres, opened its “Music In the Park” fall series on Sept. 6.
The series, now in its 40th year, continues on Saturday evenings through Sept. 27 at the László Veres Amphitheatre at Udall Park, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road.
The all-volunteer Arizona Symphonic Winds, which Veres formed in 1986, performs music for all ages, including classical music overtures, light classics, marches, Broadway show tunes and pop standards. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. and admission is free.
Saturday — The 250-strong Catalina Foothills High School Falcon Marching Band will join the Winds on stage and throughout the amphitheater as they give the audience a taste of their marching show music. The band’s director, Renee Shane-Boyd, will conduct part of the concert, including performance of “El Choclo” and “Sedona.”
Sept. 20 — Longtime Tucson Pops Orchestra Concertmaster Michael Fan will perform Sarasate’s beautiful and fiery “Zigeunerweisen” on a program that also includes “Waves of the Danube Waltz” (also known as “Anniversary Waltz”), Broadway show-stoppers and selections from the musical “Wicked.”
Sept. 27 — Tucson Symphony Orchestra principal oboist Max Adler makes his debut with the Winds performing Marcello’s virtuosic Oboe Concerto. The program also includes the Overture from Nicolai’s “Merry Wives of Windsor” and selections from “Les Misérables,” including the beautiful prayer “Bring Him Home.”
In its abridged fall series, Tucson Pops Orchestra Director Khris Dodge and the ensemble, comprised of moonlighting Tucson Symphony Orchestra and University of Arizona musicians, will host the Southwest Tenors on Oct. 5 at DeMeester, 900 S. Randolph Way off East 22nd Street and South Country Club Road. Admission is free.
