South Jersey Pops Takes Audiences Into Unknown Musically May 19

The South Jersey Pops, the area’s own non-profit orchestra, completes its “exploration”-themed 2018-19 season as it performs “Lift Off: Exploring Beyond” May 19th at Lenape High School in Medford. Where prior performances paid musical homage to exploring the seas and our home planet, Lift Off will carry audiences beyond our world and into the unknown, featuring selections from Star Wars, Star Trek, and even David Bowie’s “Starman,” popularized for younger audiences in the 2015 hit The Martian.

South Jersey Pops’ musical director Robert Bradshaw of Audubon, founder of the Haddonfield School of Music, will once again conduct the all-volunteer orchestra. He will be joined on stage by the Audubon High School Select Choir and guest vocalist/guitarist Charlie Hannagan. From Wilmington, Delaware, Hannagan regularly lends his talents to the Pops.

“This concert completes not just our season, but our journey of Earth and beyond musically,” said Bradshaw. “Audiences should enjoy an exciting mix of recognizable pieces from movies and pop culture, along with stand-alone songs that evoke a feeling of optimism and unlimited possibilities.”

Aside from music from the two elder statesmen of popular science fiction, the Pops will perform tracks from ET, Doctor Who, The X-Files, and even the HALO video game franchise. The choir will assist in “Over the Rainbow,” and Bradshaw noted there will be a nod to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

“This is our final concert of the current season, and we are going out with a blast, a rocket blast that is,” said Christian Stebbins, president of the South Jersey Pops. “Our exploration concerts have been extremely popular, so we recommend buying tickets in advance to ensure a seat and avoid lines at the door.”

“Lift Off: Exploring Beyond” begins at 3 p.m. May 19th; doors open 30 minutes before the performance. Admission is $10 for adults, free for children 13 and under. Lenape High Schools is located at 235 Hartford Road, Medford, N.J. To order tickets, visit www.southjerseypops.org/events.

Founded in 1969, the South Jersey Pops is a 60-piece community orchestra based in Burlington County, New Jersey. Comprised of professional and volunteer instrumentalists, the orchestra brings stylistic musical entertainment to South Jersey. For more information on the South Jersey Pops, visit www.southjerseypops.org.