California Pops Orchestra 3790 El Camino Real MS341 Palo Alto, CA 94306 650-856-8432 PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release May 23, 2012 California POPS Orchestra presents "The Best of the Pops!" 23rd Season Finale 3:00pm, June 10th in Los Gatos Kim Venaas, Music Director & Conductor Returning Special Guests: The Honeybee Trio The California Pops Orchestra, the Bay Area's only full, 65-piece show orchestra, presents "The Best of the Pops" Season Finale. By popular demand the Honeybee Trio returns. Prepare for an afternoon of audience favorites: Broadway, Hollywood, Big Band and Comedy. It's funny, crazy, romantic, nostalgic and all great arrangements. Music from the Andrew Sisters, James Bond, I Love Lucy and Henry Mancini including the world premiere of Paul Hart's "Cartoon" for pops symphony. Sun. June 10th at 3pm at Calvary Church: 16330 Los Gatos Blvd. Los Gatos. $30 to $40. Reserved seating. www.calpops.com. (650) 856-8432 "Why a "Best Of" show? - The idea for a "best of" show came, as always, from the audience. Conductor and Encee Kim Venaas explains, "Since we are an all-request show orchestra we often get requests to bring back a piece that was especially well-liked, sometimes from 15 or 20 years ago!" That's the reason the show will include Henry Mancini's "Moon River" and selections from Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma". Featured Music - Also on the program are themes from the James Bond movies, a tribute to film composer John Williams with music from "Jaws" and "Superman" and "Indiana Jones". Venaas is delighted by the requests. "I couldn't have a better group of tune-choosers than our audience! These people love America's popular music and are the whole reason the Pops exists." That's also why the music of TV's "I Love Lucy" and "Dragnet" and Jackie Gleason's "The Honeymooners" make an appearance. Special Artists - The show features audience-favorites Bob Runnels on trumpet playing "What's New" and concert pianist Chin Beckmann in "a hilarious mash-up of every piano concerto ever written" as described by Maestro Venaas. "It's like the piano soloist and the orchestra just can't agree on which concerto they're supposed to be playing! As much fun for the orchestra as it is for the audience". The two-hour show also features the return of The Honeybee Trio, three amazing young women whose close-harmony performances rival those of the Andrews Sisters. The Honeybees debuted with the Pops in April for the Pops' Big Band Show and the audience made their return a top request. Just two hours? - One challenge the orchestra faced was how to pick just two hours of music to present. "The sheer number of top audience favorites requested totaled over 11 hours!" says Executive Director Alicia Wilmunder. "This isn't Wagner! So we had to put literally hundreds of tunes on the 'next season' list." This show is presented only once this season. About Maestro Venaas and the California Pops Venaas, a veteran of decades on the concert stage, radio, theater and movies, delights in interacting with the audience during the shows. Explains Venaas, "I love involving the audience. After all, they're the whole reason we're on stage in the first place and it's my goal to make them feel like they're here in the theater with 1,300 of their closest, dearest friends!" Audiences respond to this attitude and liken the California Pops to a blend of the Boston Pops with Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. Maestro Venaas says, laughing, "Yeah, when I first heard that comparison I thought 'but I sing much better than Garrison!"" One major difference between the California Pops Orchestra and all others is that it is the nation's only all-request symphony orchestra. Fans call, write or just talk with Venaas as he mingles with the audience before each show and tell him what music they'd like to hear the orchestra play. Venaas says, "If they want to hear us do a specific tune then we'll do our level best to get hold of it and play it on an upcoming show. And without exception the requests have been for great music. I guess that shows our audiences also have exceptional taste in music" Venaas says with a grin. About the Honeybee Trio The Honeybee Trio was formed in October 2008. Its three young singers, Sarah, Natalie, and Karli were only 12 and 13 at the time. They had all performed in local talent shows, and they had all been members of the same musical theater groups. Debi McMindes, now their artistic director, asked the three to work together for a special performance at a local retirement community. Though there were originally no plans beyond that one performance, it was clear that their combined talents produced something very special. And so, The Honeybee Trio was born. The girls sing classics from the 1930s and beyond in tight, three part harmony, with an emphasis on the 1930s and 40s swing era. In the three years since their journey began, they have performed over 100 times to enthusiastic audiences throughout California. Reviews say - "The California Pops Orchestra treats the Great American Songbook as it should be treated - with excellent musicianship, clear affection, and the respect these pop music classics deserve." Leigh Weimers, KLIV/Gentry Magazine "The California Pops gives new meaning and vitality to the popular music of 20th Century America. The ensemble magically restores life to a bygone age." John Stanley former host of KTVU (Creature Features) Media Online Press Room with Download Link: http://www.californiapops.com/pressroom Downloads of Hi-Res photos, press release, detail on our guest artists, calendar listings and more. For additional info please contact Vic Befera, Pops Public Relations (650) 328-3936, email: manager@californiapops.com or Executive Director Alicia Wilmunder at (650) 856-8432. The California Pops Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) Community Non-Profit Corporation. www.californiapops.org _ 650.856.8432