ANYTHING GOES - Saturday, October 17, 2009 Click thumbnail to view enlarged photo.
PARIS JANOS WINS THE FIRST ANNUAL BATTLE OF BATONS!
On Saturday, January 16, it was 'wand warfare' on stage as The Panama City POPS presented "Battle of the Batons" to a great turnout at Arnold High School Auditorium. The first annual fundraiser of its kind, the concert featured The POPS’ traditional program of classical and popular musical selections, but with a twist.
The concert was a fundraiser for the orchestra, where three local luminaries vied for the opportunity to conduct the final work of the night’s program. Each tried out on stage prior to the intermission, following which the audience voted for their favorite conductor. Each vote cost $1.00.
The competition was fierce! Contenders Jimmy Patronis of Capt. Anderson’s, WJHG's Morning Anchor Paris Janos, and Jim Hayden, owner of The Bagel Maker each gave a fantastic performance. Adding to the uniqueness of the evening was the presentation of a very special hand-carved baton to each conductor. The batons were the gift of Mr. Bruce Goldflies, father of orchestra member David Goldflies.
Want more info? Click here to view past programs from The Panama City POPS and discover what you and your family have been missing!
CANADIAN PIANIST, RACHMANINOFF TOP POPS SEASON FINALE ON MAY 8
At the tender age of 9, Christine Mari Yoshikawa was playing piano concertos and performing as a recitalist and soloist with orchestras in cities such as Paris, London, Munich, Sofia, Prague, Tokyo, New York, Boston and Chicago. In regular concerto engagements and recitals in major halls around the world, the Canadian pianist has quickly established herself as one of Canada’s most sought-after young pianists.
She will be the featured soloist during "Enchanting Escapades," the final concert of the season by The Panama City POPS, Saturday, May 8, 7:30 pm at the Arnold High School Auditorium. Her encore appearance reprises her highly acclaimed appearance at last year’s final POPS concert on May 2.
Ms. Yoshikawa will perform the first movement of Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concert Number One." The piece was written by the Russian composer in 1892 at the age of 19, and was modeled after Norwegian Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto, a favorite work of the composer. Rachmaninoff revised the piece in 1917, transforming an early, immature composition into the concise, spirited work it is today.
Yoshikawa Background
Equally comfortable in both traditional and contemporary genres, Dr. Yoshikawa frequently performs chamber music with some of the world’s finest musicians.
She is the winner of many national and international competitions including the Grand Prize winner and Laureate of the Kromeriz International Piano Festival Competition, the Canadian Music Competitions, Young Concert Artist Guild, 7th Ehrhart International Competition.
She was awarded the 2002-03 Mary Louise Remy Endowed PEO Scholar for her doctoral research on the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff, a recognition reserved for the top two of just 85 research scholars selected from over 600 North American nominations.
Additional awards include the prestigious Kieckhefer Doctoral Dissertation Award, the Aiken-Rockefeller Concert Artist Career Grand and Medallion, British Columbia Arts Council Grant, and the President’s Scholar Award.
A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Yoshikawa began her piano studies at the age of two. She holds top medals from the Western Board and Royal School of Music in London, and degrees with distinction honors from the University of Victoria, University of British Columbia and Arizona State University.
A committed educator, she conducts clinics and masterclasses internationally. She has held teaching positions at the University of British Columbia and Arizona State University, and currently serves on the faculties of Chipola College and Gulf Coast Community College.
PANAMA CITY POPS & VISUAL ARTS CENTER UNVEIL 2009-2010 POPS VISUAL ARTIST
“La Famiglia di Musica” by local artist, Steve Butler, has been selected as the featured work of art on this season’s Panama City POPS Orchestra brochure, program covers, advertisements and other related collateral.
Born and raised in Alabama, Mr. Butler earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Auburn University. Shortly after graduation he moved to Lynn Haven where he accepted a position as creative director and concept illustrator for an engineering firm. After ten years with the firm, he pursued his own career as a designer and illustrator. Butler’s fine art is published and distributed internationally. He also draws renderings for the real estate development market, and designs images for the home wall décor and product market.
The painting, in acrylic, will be on display at the Visual Arts Center in downtown Panama City throughout the POPS 14th season. Silent bids are currently being accepted online here. At the final concert on May 8 the POPS will host its Almost Silent Art Auction with a live auction to complete the sale of the painting. Interested bidders are welcome to call the POPS at 850-785-POPS (7677) for further information, and to view the painting at the Visual Arts Center.
Panama City POPS Orchestra
PO Box 744
Panama City, FL 32402
Email: info@panamacitypops.org
Phone: 850-785-POPS (7677)
