2011 – 2012 Season
RETURNS TO THE STAGE JANUARY 20
Following its October opener in its new home, the Panama City POPS returns to the Marina Civic Center stage this Friday, January 20, with the perennially popular “Battle of the Batons”.
The third annual fundraiser of its kind, the concert will feature The POPS’ traditional program of classical and popular musical selections, but this time with a twist, whimsically referred to as “wand warfare.”
The concert is a fundraiser for the orchestra. Three local luminaries will vie for the opportunity to conduct the final work of the night’s program. They will try out on stage prior to intermission and during intermission members of the audience will vote for their favorite conductor. Each vote costs $1.00.
And the competition will be fierce. This year’s contenders: the Honorable Greg Brudnicki, Mayor of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College Women’s Basketball Coach, Roonie Scovel and Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen. “These three contenders will not want to be outdone by one another,” stated Artistic Director and Maestro Eddie Rackley. “I hope people from the entire region join us for this exciting concert.”
Adding to the uniqueness of the evening will be the presentation of hand-carved batons to each conductor. The batons are the gift of Mr. Bruce Goldflies, father of orchestra member David Goldflies. Bruce Goldflies is a retired music teacher who now enjoys hobbies such as wood carving and photography. David Goldflies is CEO of CyberSytes, Inc. batons hand-carved by Bruce GoldfliesHe plays double bass in the orchestra.
The Panama City POPS concerts are traditionally a combination of familiar, light classical works and popular arrangements. Friday night’s program will be more than musically rewarding. The first half of the concert will be mounted with various classical styles, including the beautiful “Roses from the South” by Johann Strauss II, ranking among the “Waltz King’s” most magnificent works, and Tschaikowsky’s “Capriccio Italien,” reminiscent of Italian street fairs.
In the second half the lighter sounds of the orchestra will emerge, featuring popular favorites by Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and John Williams. Highlighting the POPS portion of the evening will be a performance from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Requiem.” The exquisite “Pie Jesu” will be sung by soloist, Elizabeth Godfrey Ford, accompanied by the POPS Chorale.