THE CHORUS OF WESTERLY TO PRESENT 39TH SUMMER POPS ON JUNE 22 IN WILCOX PARK AS FINAL CONCERT OF ITS 60TH SEASON WESTERLY, RI –
The harmonies of community and music come together to officially welcome summer in Westerly on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 8 pm, as the Chorus of Westerly presents its 39th annual Summer Pops performance in downtown Westerly’s Wilcox Park.
This year’s performance, marking the final concert of the Chorus of Westerly’s 60th concert season and a part of the Town of Westerly’s 350th anniversary, features the 180- voice Chorus of Westerly, the Pops Festival Orchestra, the Artillery Company of Newport, a fireworks finale by Grucci, and is conducted by Andrew Howell.
The American Band, a 60-piece ensemble led by conductor Brian Cardany, will be featured as special guests of Summer Pops 2019 on both the main program, which begins at 8 pm, and as lead act on the Pops pre-show at 6:15 pm.
The preshow will also include performances by Pianist Michael Chicoria and The Westerly Morris Men. Also featured on the main show as Summer Pops special guest artist, being presented in conjunction with the Westerly Bricks and Mural’s Harmony Trail project, is seven-time Grammy winning saxophonist Paul Winter.
Mr. Winter will perform music with the orchestra and chorus, as well as pair with Harmony Trail instrument creator Richard Cooke for a special new work featuring the chorus, orchestra, and some of the outdoor instruments being installed in Westerly as part of the Harmony Trail the same weekend.
In addition to music with the American Band, Paul Winter, and Richard Cooke, the Summer Pops program will include music from The Music Man, Henry Mancini’s Moon River, a portion of the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, a Mack Wilberg arrangement of Homeward Bound, patriotic favorites including America the Beautiful, and Sousa’s Liberty Bell March.
SUMMER POPS WESTERLY QUICK DETAILS WHAT
Summer Pops Westerly, 2019 Produced and Presented by The Chorus of Westerly WHEN Saturday, June 22, 2019, 8 pm Pre-show at 6:15 pm Rain dates June 23 and 24 WHERE Wilcox Park, Broad Street, downtown Westerly, RI WHO Main show (8 pm) Conductor Andrew Howell, The Chorus of Westerly,
The Pops Festival Orchestra The Artillery Company of Newport, Fireworks by Grucci Special Guests on Main Show: The American Band Special Guests on Main Show: Saxophonist Paul Winter and Harmony Trail Instrument Creator Richard Cooke Pre-show (6:15 pm) The American Band The Westerly Morris Men Pianist Michael Chicoria
DETAILS
Free event.
No tickets or admission charge. Family friendly. Seating in park meadow (blankets, sand chairs audience brings).
Blankets can be put down and left beginning at 5 pm on Friday, June 21, 2019.
PRESENTED
Fully produced and presented by The Chorus of Westerly Paul Winter and Richard Cooke’s appearance copresented with Westerly Bricks and Mural’s as part of their Harmony Trail Premier presenting sponsor Yale New Haven Health – Westerly Hospital
QUICK DATA
39th edition of show. Typically attracts audience of 15,000 to 25,000 every year. Part of Chorus of Westerly 60th season. Summer Pops 2019 will also feature a new work celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Chorus of Westerly, the 350th anniversary, and the 40th anniversary of The American Band’s “reformation”, by talented New York composer and Westerly native John Tafone. Mr. Tafone, who is currently working on the scores for multiple new musicals soon heading towards Broadway (and who premiered music from his new musical The Count of Monte Cristo two years ago), has written a work that will feature a fanfare sounding from all corners of the park and featuring nearly all of the event’s performers.
The concert will close with its traditional ending:
Tchaikovsky’s famous 1812 Overture complete with chorus, orchestra, cannons of the Newport Artillery, the bells of Christ Church, and fireworks by Grucci. Summer Pops in Westerly is a free event and no tickets are required.
The program takes place in Wilcox Park, located between Broad Street, Grove Avenue, and High Street, next to the Westerly Public Library (the owners and operators of the park).
The main show begins at 8 pm and the pre-show begins at 6:15 pm. In the event of inclement weather, rain dates are scheduled for Sunday, June 23 and Monday, June 24, 2019.