South Jersey’s Orchestra to Perform “Dancing With the Pops”

The South Jersey Pops orchestra takes a page from its past as it hands the baton to its founder’s daughter, a music director at Cherry Hill East High School, for its May 21 performance at Lenape High School.

Dancing with the Pops, a celebration of classical dance music, waltzes, ballet music, and dance tunes from Broadway, will find the orchestra’s musicians taking their cues from Gia Walton, whose father, the late Frank Salicandro, founded South Jersey’s regional symphony in 1969. This concert marks the conclusion of the orchestra’s 47th season.

It’s not Ms. Walton’s first stint with the Pops. She briefly conducted the orchestra in 2005, when her father was in declining health. Her experience is vast, spanning 30 years cultivating her students to careers in music, through both her private clarinet studio at the Conservatory of Musical Arts in Haddonfield, and in her role as Instrumental Music Director at CHEHS. Throughout her teaching career, she has led different types of ensembles, from wind ensemble to jazz band to pit orchestra.

As a professional clarinetist, she has performed with many local ensembles including the Philly Pops, Ocean City Pops, Atlantic City Chamber Ensemble, Bridgeton Symphony, Walnut Street Theater, South Jersey Pops, as well as with myriad of Broadway productions.

“This is a privilege for us, as Gia’s guiding touch is sure to bring out the best from the Pops, while providing a touchstone to our heritage,” said Christian Stebbins, South Jersey Pops’ president.

South Jersey Pops will perform Dancing with the Pops at 3 p.m., Sundayy, May 21st. Doors open at 2:30. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or online at www.southjerseypops.org. Children 13 and under are admitted free. Lenape High School is located at 235 Hartford Road, Medford, N.J.

Founded in 1969 as the Burlington County Pops, the 60-member South Jersey Pops Orchestra is an all-volunteer community ensemble that presents several concerts annually. The orchestra provides musicians of all ages an opportunity to express themselves musically in a friendly environment and provides its audiences an opportunity to enjoy live music close to home at moderate cost. The orchestra’s member musicians share administrative duties and pay annual dues to help defray the organization’s expenses. For more information on the South Jersey Pops, visit www.southjerseypops.org.