This past Sunday, the Tucson Pops Board of Directors kicked off its 69th spring season of the Tucson Pops Orchestra’s Music Under the Stars.
If you missed this past Mother’s Day show there are still two more chances to catch the music.
Maestro Khris Dodge is excited about the programs that he and the orchestra will present at Reid Park in celebration of Our Planet on Sunday, May 19 and Memorial Day on Sunday, May 26.
Some of Tucson’s top food trucks presented by Tucson Food Truck Rally and Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank (SAAFB) will once again be on-site to provide the perfect provisions for dining while enjoying the music.
New this year: the Pops Beer Garden will be serving local brews and wines. The fee to sit in the beer garden for the evening is $10 per person. You can reserve your spot at the Pops Beer Garden ahead of time online.
Tucson Pops Concerts are free to attend and open to all. Donations are highly encouraged to ensure that Music Under The Stars will be available to all for many years to come!
“We are truly blessed to have the most talented artists in the region perform for us throughout the year who are dedicated to providing the highest quality musical entertainment for us all,” said Dodge.
Performance & Food Truck Schedule
Music for the Planet and a Better World
Sunday, May 19 at 7 p.m.
This concert is a post-Earth Day Celebration of our precious environment and the people who make a difference in our World. Ballet Tucson presents two world premieres: The first is choreographed by Artistic Director Margaret Mullins and accompanied by Debussy’s Clair de Lune with Marie Sierra on piano with the orchestra. Dancers: Lauren Vogel and August Hartung. The second premiere is entitled Springtime Swing, choreographed by Danielle Cesanek. Dancers: Emma Greenawalt, August Hartung, Darcey Lynn, Jessica Lynn, Sally Megargee, Hannah Smith, and Lauren Vogel
Saguaro City Music Theatre partnered with songwriter Cameron Hood (Ryanhood) in the development of his new work from the musical “Voyager” featuring two vocalists James Kelley Carroll & Samantha Beemer. The concert also includes a special tribute to Susan Claasen, Artistic Director of Invisible Theatre, and the numerous contributions that she has made to our world over the past 49 years. Vocalist Kathryn Byrnes will perform There’s No Business-Like Show Business. Other selections are dedicated to the world we live in and include Sunrise in Napoli, Debussy’s Clair de Lune, What the World Needs Now by Bert Bacharat, George Gershwin compositions, and much more.
Food Trucks on Sunday, May 19
- Fiesta Filipino
- SAAFB Coffee Clutch
- Sarge’s Cheesecake
- Hot Pops Kettle Corn
- Hawaiian Shaved Ice
- Fire House Truck
- Romero Mexican
Memorial Day Concert with special guest Greg Curtis Wakefield
Sunday, May 26 at 7 p.m.
Opening with the moving DMAFB Honor Guard Presentation of Colors, this concert pays tribute to the US Armed Services. Classic patriotic songs like Stars and Stripes Forever, Arm Forces Salute, Star Spangled Banner, Hymn to the Fallen, the poignant Hymn to the Fallen, and more. The evening will conclude with America the Beautiful.
Food Trucks on Sunday, May 26
- SAAFB Coffee Clutch
- Fire House Truck
- Sarge’s Cheesecake
- Hot Pops Kettle Corn
- Hawaiian Shaved Ice
- Quesadillas & More
- Fiesta Filipino
For more information on the Tucson Pops Orchestra visit us on facebook.com or at tucsonpops.org or call (520) 722-5853.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
