Robert Bradshaw will lead the orchestra in four concerts tentatively planned at Lenape High School.
South Jersey Pops orchestra welcomes a new music director as it tunes up for the 2017–2018 season, which will mark its 48th season bringing jazz, classical and popular music to area residents.
Robert Bradshaw comes aboard and picks up the baton for the coming year, concluding the search for a full-time music director after the departure of Robert Schiavinato in May of 2016.
The Pops has used a series of guest conductors in the interim, including Bradshaw. The founder and director of the Haddonfield School of Music, Bradshaw has been directing musical ensembles for 15 years.
He has performed in such venues as The Kimmel Center and Carnegie Hall and The Lincoln Center in New York.
“Rob offered a clear, strong vision for the future of the orchestra, including enhanced performance productions and interesting concert themes to attract audiences, and he’s poised to build the orchestra in terms of personnel and skill,” South Jersey Pops president Christian Stebbins said. “His enthusiasm and energy is infectious with both the membership and the audience, and will be a significant motivator for the organization as a whole.”
Bradshaw will guide the orchestra through four performances during the coming season, including the Pops’ holiday show. According to South Jersey Pops officials, his influence will fall over all four shows.
“Having been focused on the music school for so long, the South Jersey Pops has been my opportunity to take up the violin and get back into performing,” Bradshaw said. “I’m fortunate to be inheriting an orchestra that has grown and modernized significantly under former director Bob Schiavinato’s guidance. I hope to leverage that momentum to bring more production value, while maintaining the high level of musicality he brought to it.”
A subscription package for all for concerts is available now for $30. The subscription performances are:
· Phantoms & Shadows on Nov. 5, Voices of the Season on Dec. 17, Dawn Breaks on March 11, 2018 and Festival on May 20, 2018.
All shows are currently scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. and are tentatively planned to be performed at Lenape High School, 235 Hartford Road.
Individual concert tickets are $10, with children younger than 13 admitted free.
Founded in 1969, the South Jersey Pops is a 60-piece community orchestra based in Burlington County.
Comprised of professional and volunteer instrumentalists, the orchestra brings stylistic musical performances to South Jersey.
For more information on the South Jersey Pops, visit www.southjerseypops.org.
