POPS! At The Center Orchestra Novas Martinis and Tikis: Cool Music And Hot Nights

In what promises to be the hippest and most sophisticated concert in the San Diego area this spring, Orchestra Nova, led by conductor Jung-Ho Pak, will be joined by an exceptionally talented group of guest artists to perform the cool and sensuous hits of the ’50s and ’60s in a pops concert on Saturday, April 24, at 4pm at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido featuring unforgettable gems from Henry Mancini (Moon River, Charade, Pink Panther) and other Hollywood and jazz favorites including Frank Sinatra songs and famous Latin bossa nova classics by Jobim.

 

Local favorite Dave Scott, known as KUSI’s weekend meteorologist but also as a highly respected jazz musician and songwriter with a vocal style compared to Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme, will be one of the featured vocalists. Soprano Nicole Werner, with an MFA from San Diego State University in musical theatre, will join Scott as a vocalist. Werner was a major crowd pleaser when she performed at the center with Orchestra Nova last year. She has also performed in New York and Florida.

 

The team of flutist Holly Hofmann and pianist Mike Wofford has been an important part of the American jazz scene for several years, each also recording and performing with various groups throughout the United States and Europe. Hofmann is currently the music director for several jazz series and festivals and Wofford has had many associations with many well-known Hollywood musicians and studios through the years. Married since 2000 and now based in San Diego, they continue to record, perform, and tour.

 

Topping off this outstanding group of guest artists are ballroom dancers Elena Rodriguez and Jason Rivers. Rodriguez, with a graduate degree in organic chemistry and working for the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, rekindled her passion for dance four years ago and has since garnered multiple awards with her professional partners in Pro/Am competitions around the country. Rivers, a professional dancer from Australia who has won many awards worldwide is also an instructor and choreographer for social and competitive dancers at Mary Murphy’s Champion Ballroom in San Diego.

 

Artistic director and conductor Jung-Ho Pak has gained a reputation as a visionary and influential leader. His mission is to create a joyous, emotional and dramatic music experience for today’s audience members, whether it’s through the performance of traditional classical music or through the performance of pop music from past decades. His revolutionary new concepts of utilizing multimedia technology, non-classical connections, drama and theatrical staging in an interactive and approachable way have resulted in significantly increased ticket sales for Orchestra Nova. This concert will epitomize his vision.

 

The POPS! At the Center series of pops concerts are generously supported by Jean Will. (858/350-0290, www.orchestranova.org)