Special presentation featuring The American Pops Orchestra with founder/music director and Parkersburg native Luke Frazier, Queen of Bluegrass Rhonda Vincent, Hamilton and Wicked’s Mandy Gonzalez, Christian/gospel artist Natalie Grant, and more.
The American Pops Orchestra (APO) presents “United in Song,” filmed for TV Broadcast live from the Peoples Bank Theatre in Marietta, Ohio. Celebrating the diverse musical genres that comprise American music, acclaimed artists from Country Music to Broadway, Classical Music to Bluegrass and beyond join a full orchestra for a one-night-only performance. In addition to hearing celebrated performers from across the country, audience reactions and footage will be captured throughout the concert to be included in the aired TV special, giving all attendees the chance to appear in a national broadcast!
Performing a wide range of musical selections, featured artists for this program include renowned Broadway actress, Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton, In The Heights, Wicked); iconic Christian and Gospel Singer, Natalie Grant (Nine Time Grammy Nominee); internationally celebrated Clarinetist, Ricardo Morales (Principal Clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra); pianist of Grammy-winning soundtracks, Jacqueline Schwab (Ken Burns’ Civil War film); standout Baritone soloist, Reginald Smith, Jr. (Grammy and Emmy Award Winner); the Grammy Winning Queen of Bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent (American bluegrass singer-songwriter and Grand Ole Opry member); and more! In addition to the distinguished cast, APO will be joined by the Ohio University choir performing alongside legends from the stage, recording industry, and screen. Regional talents Jess Baldwin and Jordan Williams also join this amazing lineup.
Throughout this 90-minute concert, the audience will experience a fast-moving presentation of various music types. At intermission, attendees will have the opportunity to depart or are welcome to remain for an additional 60 minutes of reshoots.
Confirmed Cast
COUNTRY – Brett Young (Multi-Platinum Selling Country Star)
BROADWAY – Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton, In The Heights, Wicked)
CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL – Natalie Grant (Nine Time Grammy Nominee)
CLASSICAL – Ricardo Morales (Internationally Acclaimed Clarinetist, Principal Clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra)
PIANO – Jacqueline Schwab (from the soundtracks of Ken Burns’ films, including his Grammy- winning Civil War, Baseball, Lewis and Clark, Mark Twain, The War, and The National Parks)
OPERA – Reginald Smith, Jr. (Grammy and Emmy Award Winning Baritone)
BLUEGRASS – Rhonda Vincent (Grammy Winning Queen of Bluegrass)
About The American Pops Orchestra
APO was founded in 2015 with a mission to build community through the preservation, promotion, and reimagination of American popular music. Through live and virtual performances, educational initiatives and collaborations, APO makes the highest quality art accessible to the broadest audiences. Seeing an opportunity to challenge the status-quo of the repertoire an orchestra performs, Founder and Music Director, Luke Frazier, created The American Pops with the intent of breaking the mold of the traditional pops orchestra. This new, distinctly “American” orchestra brings together versatile musicians and reimagined programming focused around American Popular music, and presents it with an approachable, fresh spin in order to engage diverse audiences and make attending a live orchestral show fun again. Through non-traditional orchestral settings, APO aims to deliver popular American classics to those who already know and love them, while also introducing these timeless pieces to younger generations in approachable settings. To learn more, visit www.TheAmericanPops.org, and follow APO on social media @theamericanpops.
Enjoy all of our upcoming performances on our new Byrider Stage!
