American Classics Pops Concert Concludes Quincy Symphony Orchestra Season

The Quincy Symphony Orchestra will present their American Classics Pops Concert as the finale to its Imagine! concert season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13 in the QJHS Morrison Theater. Audiences who are not used to hearing an orchestra swing will be delighted with the brass-like big band sound.

Music director Dr. Bruce Briney and the QSO will perform favorites from hugely successful Broadway productions including “West Side Story,” “Porgy and Bess” and “The Sound of Music,” as well as other well-known hits. A highlight of the concert will be the George Gershwin spectacular, “An American in Paris.”

A special tribute performance of “Flute Cocktail” will honor principal flutist Charlotte Stroot for 50 years of participation in the QSOA. The flute section including Charlotte, Stephanie Rieth and Sue Cutrone will collaborate on this fun piece, made popular by Arthur Fiedler’s famed Boston Pops Orchestra. Charlotte, Stephanie, and Sue have made up the QSO flute section for over 20 years.

The $1,000 Grand Prize Drawing for the 8th Annual QSOA Raffle will be held at the conclusion of the intermission. Raffle proceeds support the many programs of the QSOA, including concerts of the orchestra, chorus, youth orchestra, and youth chorus, as well as the in-school symphony concerts for over 3500 third through sixth graders. The grand prize of $1,000 cash, second place prize of two Cape Air round trip tickets and third place prize of two QSOA season tickets will be awarded. Raffle tickets are on sale for $10 each or 12/$100, and may be purchased at the concert, in advance from any orchestra, chorus, Encore! or Symphony Board member, or by calling the Symphony office at 222-2856 or online.

Concert tickets will be available at the door or may be purchased in advance at Quincy Hy-Vee stores, Sturhahn Jewelers or the Symphony Office at 200 N. 8th St. Tickets are $12 for seniors and $15 for other adults. Thanks in part to support from the Tracy Family Foundation, children 18 and under are admitted free to all QSO concerts. Students, faculty and staff of John Wood Community College, Quincy University, Western Illinois University, Truman State and Culver-Stockton College are admitted free by showing their school identification.

An encore performance will held at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 14 in the Grand Theatre, Keokuk, Iowa.

Tickets for the Keokuk performance are available through the Keokuk Concert Association by calling (319)-524-8405.