The Cleveland POPS Orchestra rang in the New Year with its 16th annual
concert and dance at Cleveland’s world class Severance Hall. It was indeed an extraordinary evening, featuring our guest artists, The Three Phantoms. Craig Schulman, Ciaran Sheehan, and Gary Mauer thrilled the sold out crowd with their beautiful singing, charismatic personalities, and wry sense of humor. The orchestra was in rare form, accompanying the singers with sensitivity, and performing the orchestral selections with excitement and panache. The two bands, City Heat in the Smith Lobby, and The Cleveland POPS All Stars in the Rotunda, were well received by audience members who danced the night away with enthusiasm and revelry. The midnight balloon drop in the Rotunda was a highlight, as usual.
The singers each performed selections individually, and also sang as a trio. Craig’s “Bring Him Home,” Ciaran’s “Maria,” and Gary’s “Joanna/Pretty Women” were among the many solo highlights, and their trio version of “Music of the Night” was something extraordinary. The orchestra acquitted itself splendidly in a new John Williams Medley, and it was a treat for me to perform with the orchestra as clarinetist in Paul Ferguson’s excellent “42nd Street Medley.” The audience was in rare form, as they blew their horns (on my cue, for the most part) in “Feuerfest Polka” and “Mambo” from West Side Story, and Mell Csicsila was an expert pop gun performer in Strauss’ “Champagne Polka.” Dr. Arthur Topilow made his annual trek from New Jersey to perform as the orchestral pianist, and joined trumpeter Jack Schantz, trombonist Paul Ferguson, drummer George Judy, bass guitarist Dean Newton, and me as clarinetist in the Rotunda for post concert dancing. I always enjoy leading the countdown to the New Year!
I’d like to thank our audience for joining us for this special evening! We always love performing to a large and animated audience, and this year’s sellout crowd was particularly inspiring.
We look forward to our upcoming concerts, The Texas Tenors on March 3, a Salute to John Williams on March 24, A Song and A Dance on April 21, and our annual Salute to the Armed Forces on May 25. We hope to see you often at the POPS!
