By JP Phillips
Contributing Writer

July 20 marks a milestone for the Chesco Pops, Chester County’s own semi-professional orchestra. They are celebrating 20 years with a special anniversary concert featuring crowd favorites and an original composition written just for the occasion.

The concert will be held at 3 p.m. in Alumnae Hall on the Immaculata University campus.  Selections highlight Broadway and film hits in addition to the world premiere of “Soar,” written by the Pops’ composer-in-residence Joseph Lorini.  Recurring performers soprano Lyndsay Varsaci Spaziani and bassist Michael Spaziani will join to sing a few of the show tunes. Mark O’Donnell will play bagpipes on a selection from the film “The Last of the Mohicans.”

Pops orchestras differ from symphony orchestras.  

“Symphony orchestras typically play large classical works, standard repertoire,” Music Director Joseph Gehring said. “The Pops provides another outlet for audiences to hear more popular music [such as] show tunes and some jazz.”  The upcoming concert will include selections from the musicals Cabaret, Les Misérables, Mary Poppins, Guys and Dolls, Wicked, Strike up the Band, and West Side Story.  Other movie selections include pieces from “Jurassic Park” and “The Prince of Egypt.”

Gehring has been with the Pops since its inception in 2005, first as an assistant conductor, and then conductor for the past 12 years.  The orchestra consists of 65 musicians from all parts of Chester County.  The orchestra only has two or three rehearsals before each show, so it’s clear the musicians are highly skilled.

Many of the musicians are local music educators in Chester County school districts—Ryan Maule, Brittany Hassler, and Erin Kauppila from Oxford Area School District; Ryan Fegley and Paula Eichman from Unionville-Chadds Ford School District; Scott Cullen and Drew Reynolds from Octorara Area School District; Danielle Cullen and Heather Donnell from Downingtown Area School District; Liz Shafman, Donna Cooper, and Riley McGowan from West Chester Area School District; Robert Frazier from Westtown School; and Adam Search from Great Valley School District.  Search also serves as assistant conductor and director of operations for the Chesco Pops.

Gehring graduated from West Chester University with a music education degree, and has been spreading his love of music to young people and adults alike for the past 25 years. 

“Music education is really important to me,” he said.  “When I took over it as music director, I started the Halloween concert to get more kids to come.  [They] dress up in costumes and we do a parade across the stage,” he said.  “So, it's really trying to reach out to families of all ages. Sometimes there’s a magic show.  Recently, we did a movie concert where we had a screen in the back of the stage and we were showing movie clips and so we played along with that. That was really engaging for the orchestra and the audience. They really enjoyed that.”

Chesco Pops’ commitment to families and young people is evident.  Concert ticket prices for adults are always very reasonable, and tickets for children as well as students are free.  A family of four can attend a live Pops concert for around the same price as going to the movies.

They typically perform three or four concerts a year—in the summer, the Halloween concert, and a Holiday show.  They have performed at Immaculata, Collegium Charter School Performing Arts Center in Exton, Unionville, and Phoenixville High Schools. 

The Pops is a non-profit organization and depends on community support.  Maryanne Smart is a board member who chairs the Gala Committee and is co-chair of the marketing committee. She is currently busy organizing the Pops Gala to be held on September 21 at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern.  The Gala is seeking sponsors and donation items for the auctions.  Besides featuring delicious food and excellent company, of course, there will be music.  

Smart also has played bass for the Pops since their beginning. When asked about performing, “Oh, I just love it,” she said.  “It's the audience. I mean, they really make it, and it’s just so exciting to play.”

The Chesco Pops mission is to provide the citizens of Chester County and beyond with the musical, cultural, educational, and entertainment benefits that derive from a resident pops orchestra.  It is a 501(C) charitable organization (EIN 20-2515353).  Contact Maryanne Smart at [email protected] for more information about sponsoring or donating auction items to the Gala and purchase tickets for the Chesco Pops Anniversary Concert at the website www.Chescopops.org.