The Pops has been building a musical library which now includes Broadway show tunes, TV, cartoon, circus, vaudeville, big band, light classical, rock, jazz, latin, and movie themes.

        Many of these orchestrations are long out of print and represent a musical heritage which is slipping away. It is a vital part of The Peninsula Pops Orchestra's charter to preserve that heritage through live performances in our communities.

        Orchestra Conductor Kim Venaas explains that his goal is to entertain. "You can go anywhere in the Bay Area, on any weekend and hear solid, dependable, very 'serious' music. The Pops plays music that was designed to conjure visions of romance, laughter, adventure, and intrigue in the listener; they strive to entertain, delight, and help you relax. It's full of sights, sounds, memories, and feelings. You haven't lived until you've heard an orchestra, that really knows how to swing, perform West Side Story's Cool, portraying a New York City street gang with the ultimate cool. Now, that's entertainment!"

        Maestro Venaas has conducted, arranged, and performed in all areas of popular and classical music from recordings to radio/TV to the concert and musical stage. He was brought up on big band music and, in addition to the POPs, leads a professional big band here on the West Coast.

        That background naturally leads to a relaxed, interactive style in the POPs shows, a style free of the usual formal separation between conductor and audience. "Sure, I talk with the audience! Who wants to sit in a seat in a concert hall and be ignored for 2 hours? That kind of interaction allows the orchestra to relax, then the audience relaxes, and then we can all have fun. And isn't that why we're all here?"

        We cordially invite you to join us for the Fall concert to be performed Sunday afternoon, November 22 at 2:30 pm in Spangenberg Auditorium at Gunn High School. The program for this concert includes such favorites as When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Caravan, and Stella by Starlight, as well as A Trumpeter's Holiday, featuring Stan Soroken, and the theme music from the movie Somewhere in Time. For advanced ticket purchase and location information to Our November 22, 1998 Performance!

        Tickets are available at the door, $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for seniors and kids.