2012 – 2013 Season
Following its October season opener, the Panama City POPS returns to the Marina Civic Center stage Friday, January 18, with the perennially popular “Battle of the Batons.”
The fourth 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.
This year, the competition will be femininely fierce. The January 18 roster features an all-female contest:the Honorable Gayle Oberst, Mayor of Panama City Beach; Bay County School Board member Ginger Littleton; and WMBB-TV News Anchor Jessica Foster. “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. The Battle always turns into a rollicking good time.”
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 pieces, including the bustling and effervescent “The Marriage of Figaro Overture” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; George Bizet’s “Farandole,” his incidental music to the play, “L’Arlesienne;” and the sparkling “Academic Festival” Overture by Johannes Brahms.
Bay District School Board
WMBB
Local Composer Debuts Piece
In the second half the lighter sounds of the orchestra will emerge, featuring popular favorites by more modern composers, plus a pair of works by composers well-known to Panama City POPS audiences.
“Francisco de Goya Overture” is an exciting Spanish overture by Kevin Kaska, American composer, producer and arranger whose work has featured numerous times by the POPS.
Adding to the uniqueness of the evening will be the presentation of hand-carved batons to each guest 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.
Future concert dates are March 16 and May 4. All concerts will be performed at the Marina Civic Center and will start at 7:30 pm.
WORLD PREMIERE FROM LOCAL COMPOSER
David Goldflies Also featured at the 2013 Battle of the Batons performance will be the world premier of the piece “New Hope” written by our Principal Bassist Mr. David Goldflies. Mr. Goldflies wrote this piece in 2012 after being inspired by a walk in New Hope, Fl at the Live Oak Baptist Church. “As I worked on the orchestration of this piece I visualized the specific players in the POPS. My inspiration was not only from the New Hope experience, but was strongly tied to my years of playing with this wonderful orchestra” says Mr. Goldflies. We hope you appreciate as we do the contributions to our orchestra’s repertoire by one of our local, dedicated musicians.
