What defines "epic"? A battle of good versus evil? A landscape that takes your breath away? A story that stays with you? A piece of music that sweeps you away on a journey through time, space, and emotions? This evening at the Michigan Theater the Michigan Pops Orchestra took their audience on such a journey. When I heard the title for this semester's concert I was skeptical...how could an orchestra attempt to put on all this vastly difficult and moving music with less than three months to prepare? However, they blew the audience away with John William's Summon the Heroes, Gustav Holst's The Planets: Mars; Jupiter, Igor Stravinsky's Firebird: Berceuse; Finale and selections from The Dark Knight, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and Aladdin.
The Michigan Pops Orchestra is in its 14th year and is a 100 member orchestra that has a glorious history. The group, founded in 1995 by Warren Hsu, is the oldest student-run and student-directed collegiate pops orchestra in the country. The purpose of Pops is to give students an opportunity to continue to play their instruments in an enjoyable but semi-serious environment. The ensemble prides itself on the diversity of its members, who come from all the different colleges within the university. Most are undergraduates, but some are graduate students. Members come from LS&A, the engineering school, the music school, the medical school, etc. The group prides itself on the close-knit feel of the group...in fact some say that Pops is like your family at the university. The orchestra is run by an executive board of 13 members who manage the music, the publicity, social activities, and much more for the ensemble. In the last few years, the popularity of the orchestra has grown significantly, and due to the increased numbers a second ensemble, the Michigan Pops String Ensemble, was created. To read more about the history of the Michigan Pops check it out here!
The Michigan Pops (as they are often referred to) is a serious orchestra with a sense of humor. They practice every Sunday during the semester in preparation for a concert..producing two fabulous concerts per school year. Every semester the program has a new theme. All the music must fit the theme, including the antics, which have become a huge part of the concerts, making them enjoyable for people of all ages. Antics sometimes include such things as skits, choirs, video clips, lightsaber duels, and solos sung by guest artists. Past themes have included trips around the world with Pops In Paris, Pops Goes West, Pops At Sea, and Pops Around the World. Other concerts have taken the audience into the land of fantasy and movies with Animated Pops, Mostly Movies Pops, Battle of Movie Classics Pops and Fantasy Pops. Still others venture on dramatic adventures with Pops In Space and Pops' Excellent Adventure. One semester the ensemble explored the battle of good and evil with Victors & Villains, but most recently the orchestra went on a journey through time with Pops: Forward to the Past! To see a complete list of the Pops' past concerts check out the archive!
The Michigan Pops is to be congratulated on another breathtaking concert this past evening. This ensemble is particularly close to my heart for several reasons. This is the only orchestra that my brother and I have ever played in together (we are separated by five years). I also had the pleasure of playing with my sister-in-law and being directed for two years by my close friend, Chris Lees. After being in the group for four years and serving on the executive board for two, I have many great memories of laughter and (as we call it) Pops Love from all the people that I spent making wonderful music with. The Michigan Pops Orchestra is an amazing ensemble, and they are truly an Ann Arbor experience. So the next time you are in town be sure to stop by Revelli Hall to hear a rehearsal or come to a performance at the Michigan Theater. Have a great week, everyone!
Be sure to keep up with the Michigan Pops and find information on their upcoming concert here! Go, Pops!!
www.michiganpops.com
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