“Temperatures are sure to be warmer in June, but the Columbus Symphony plans to kick off its Picnic With the Pops series on a ‘kool’ note,” writes Peter Tonguette in Monday’s (4/29) Columbus Dispatch (OH). “The 2019 edition of the outdoor concert series will open June 14 with the symphony providing support to the 1970s-era band Kool & the Gang, which won fans for its blend of funk, rhythm-and-blues and other musical genres…. All of the concerts in the series … will take place Downtown at the John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons. Principal Pops Conductor Stuart Chafetz [will] lead concerts in which the symphony will perform alongside the rock band Jefferson Starship … Latin artists Tito Puente Jr. and Jon Secada … the R&B group the Spinners … and the Ohio State University Marching Band…. Guest conductors Brent Havens and Arnie Roth will lead a tribute to Pink Floyd … and Styx … respectively; the latter will boast founding Styx member Dennis DeYoung. Recently hired assistant conductor Andrés Lopera will take the reins of a pair of Popcorn Pops performances aimed at families, including concerts with classical music that lends itself to dancing … and movie music.”
Posted May 1, 2019
