The Atlanta Popts Orchestra at The Grand Theatre

Description

The Atlanta Pops Orchestra to perform at The Grand Theatre in downtown Cartersville as part of the Century Bank Entertainment Series.
 
The Century Bank Entertainment Series at The Grand Theatre continues when The Atlanta Pops Orchestra returns to The Grand on Saturday, December 12^th at 7:00 p.m. This year’s program, under the direction of Dr. Tom Gibson, features a blend of contemporary and familiar holiday classics.
 
“The annual holiday concert is a Cartersville tradition, and it is a great way to kick off the holiday season”, says theatre Programs Coordinator, Terri Cox.  “This will be our twelfth year featuring The Atlanta Pops, and we will have some our favorite traditional pieces as well as some selections that will bring back childhood Christmas memories.”
 
Featured songs include, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”, “O’ Holy Night”, “White Christmas”, and “Sleigh Ride” among other familiar holiday selections including a medley of songs from the Disney move “Frozen”.
 
Cox added that The Grand has a unique relationship with The Pops in which the orchestra works with vocalists from the community.  This year’s soloist is Ryan Brideau.  
 
Ryan is a 3^rd-year Bachelor of Music student at The Juilliard School, where he studies under Sanford Sylvan. He attended the Walnut Hill Summer Opera Program in 2010, the Interlochen Vocal Soloist Studies program in 2011, the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program as a Voice Major in 2012, and graduated Valedictorian from Cartersville High School in 2013. He was a National Young Arts Foundation Finalist and scholarship recipient for the year 2013, as well a US Presidential Scholar in the Arts nominee that year. Mr. Brideau is a recipient of scholarships from the Etowah Valley Scholarship Foundation and the Ray Dellinger Scholarship Fund. He is a returning Gluck Community Service Fellow for the 2015-2016 season at Juilliard, and an Ear Training Teaching Fellow, teaching under Dr. Kyle Blaha.
 
Mr. Brideau is the son of Keith and Julie Brideau, brother of Rachel and Reese Brideau.
 
Orchestra level tickets are $25 and balcony level seats are $20. This is a reserved seating event. Purchase your tickets online at www.thegrandtheatre.org, at The Grand Theatre ticket office, located at 7 North Wall Street in downtown Cartersville, or by calling 770-386-7343. Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, and American Express are accepted. The ticket office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
 
The Grand Theatre also has tickets available for the rest of the Century Bank Entertainment Series, and they make a great Christmas gift. Remaining shows include bluegrass band, Russell Moore & Third Tyme Out on February 6^th, comedian Henry Cho on March 5^th, and country music artist Collin Raye on April 16^th. More show information and video samples can be found by visiting The Grand Theatre website at www.thegrandtheatre.org or on Facebook at “Century Bank Entertainment Series at The Grand Theatre”.

About Century Bank
Century Bank is Cartersville’s only locally owned, community bank, specializing in a quality and level of service not available from a megabank. Their core values optimize what a bank should be. Century Bank of Georgia is located at 215 East Main Street in Cartersville.

About the Atlanta Pops
In 1944 French immigrant Albert Coleman accepted the position of Musical Director for WSB Radio in Atlanta, Georgia and set about forming an orchestra that would include Atlanta’s best musicians and be available for radio dates, public concerts and free performances for the benefit of young people and aspiring musicians. Albert established his first Atlanta Pops in 1945 and led that ensemble for 55 years through appearances in Atlanta and throughout the southeast. In his long career, Mr. Coleman also served as Music Director for Chet Atkins and Boots Randolf and performed with many of the major symphony orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. Most of the concerts in Atlanta were free to the local audiences and drew thousands of attendees. During his tenure, Albert was responsible for discovering and contributing to the careers of many young artists. His contributions won him the honor of membership in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
 
Since Albert Coleman retired in 1998, the orchestra has performed largely non-public events under local guest conductors.  In 2002 former Atlanta Symphony Principal Trumpeter John Head became the Conductor and principal arranger for The Atlanta Pops succeeding Albert Coleman. In 2010 Maestro Head was succeeded by current musical director Dr. Jason D. Altieri, an accomplished conductor of symphony, opera and pops programs.