Under the baton of Maestro Wes Kenney, take a tour with the Fort Collins Symphony (FCS) through the Great American Soundscape during its annual Pops Concert entitled “American Road Trip” on Friday, March 29 at 7:00 pm at Timberline Church (2908 South Timberline Road, Fort Collins). The evening’s tour guides include: Leroy Anderson, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Charles Ives, Scott Joplin, Fred Morden, and John Philip Sousa; all composers who have helped shape modern symphonic music.
Traditional “Pops” concerts offer lighter fare and symphonic arrangements of works in other media and genres. Thus, highlights from Broadway, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, or any other popular form of musical entertainment fit the themes and character of these concerts.
With the rise of orchestras that specialized in lighter musical fare came composers who specialized in such music. One of the most popular was the mid-20th century composer Leroy Anderson who wrote almost exclusively for the Boston Pops Orchestra. However, his short and often whimsical works have traveled to orchestras around the globe and into commercials, movies, and even game shows! The FCS will perform several of Anderson’s most familiar pieces, including: Plink, Plank, Plunk; The Typewriter; Blue Tango; Bugler’s Holiday; and The Waltzing Cat. Other featured works include: Bernstein’s Overture to Candide, Joplin’s The Entertainer rag, Sousa’s El Capitan March, Ives’ County Band March, and Copland’s Danzón Cubano. Contemporary arranger Fred Morden’sThree American Spirituals: He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, Amazing Grace, and Just Keep on Singing will be performed by the Symphony’s guest artist, lyric soprano Ms. Kimberli Render.
All of these composers share the common bond of Americana, thus the “American Road Trip” theme for this light and entertaining 2019 FCS Pops Concert.
Guest Artist: Ms. Kimberli Render
The FCS is honored to welcome lyric soprano Kimberli Render back to Colorado. A native of Columbus, Georgia, Ms. Render made her professional debut in 2014 as Liu in the Opera Fort Collins production of Puccini’s Turandot. Her hard work has earned her continued success as a vocal artist, most notably with a 2016 First Place Regional Award from the National Association of Negro Musicians, a 2012 First Place Award in the prestigious Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition, and as a District Winner Award in the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. Recent performances include: the featured artist for the 2017 Opera Fort Collins Guild Songs in Summer performance, Hanna Glawari in Colorado State University’s production of The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni by Mozart, Elisetta in Cimarosa’s Il matrionio segreto, and Governess in Benjamin Britten’s Turn of the Screw. She has performed in numerous Opera Fort Collins productions (including: Carmen, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Faust, and the role of Hortense in Daughter of the Regiment), galas, and educational outreach programs as a member of the company’s highly selective Apprentice Artist program.
In 2011, Ms. Render completed two Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music. She went on to complete a master’s degree in Vocal Performance at Colorado State University in 2013. Currently, Ms. Render can be found teaching in Georgia and performing throughout the United States. She enjoys sharing her passion for music and life both in the classroom and on stage.
For additional details and information, please visit www.fcsymphony.org or call 970.482.4823. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for youth. For tickets, call 970.221.6730 or LCtix.com. The Fort Collins Symphony 69th Season is sponsored by the City of Fort Collins Fort Fund and Dr. Peter Springberg. This Pops Concert is sponsored by Gwen Hatchette, Carol Ann & Gary Hixon, Nancy and Stacy Plemmons, Tim Hebert, Sage Benefit Advisors, Dr. Ed Siegel, the George & Louise Thornton Charitable Foundation, Timberline Church, and Locality Restaurant.
