Jersey Shore Pops 2011 Summer Concert Series Now On Sale

COURT HOUSE– Middle Township Performing Arts Center announced this week that tickets will officially go on sale to the public for the 2011 JERSEY SHORE POPS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES on Wednesday, December 1, 2010. The 2011 summer concert series, led by conductor and entertainer Linda Gentille will include four different themed concerts beginning in June and ending with the final concert in September. Tickets for the four concert series are $80 only until December 20, when they go up to $90. The orchestra debuted last year at the Middle Township Performing Arts Center to rave revues and record audience attendance.
The summer series will open on Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 PM with “ SING, SING SWING!”, a tribute to the music of Glen Miller and Frank Sinatra. The show features Chicago based singer Peter Oprisko who hosted a Sinatra radio show for 10 years in Chicago. He performs over 300 concerts a year with a repertoire of Sinatra standards.
The series continues with a matinee on Sunday, July 17 at 4:00 PM with “STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER” starring conductor Linda Gentille. This show will be a multi-media concert with the music and history of the great American composers such as John Philip Sousa, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Scott Joplin, Stephen Foster and Cole Porter. The show also features special guest tenor Ron Baker and Avalon soprano Mary Lou Robinson singing patriotic favorites.
Continuing the series on Saturday, August 20 at 7:30 PM with “ GREAT BALLS OF FIRE” which is a tribute to the great legends of the piano such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Joel, Elton John, Fats Waller, Fats Domino, Barry Manilow, Roger Williams, Stevie Wonder and Liberace.
The finale concert in the series will be Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 PM and will be “ JERSEY GOLD” featuring the original and current lead singer of the popular vocal group “ The Association”, Jim Yester. This show is a rock and roll pop show featuring the music of popular singers born in New Jersey including Frankie Valli, Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, Ricki Nelson and Bruce Springsteen. The show will also feature jazz vocalist Tara Tangney, a local New Jersey favorite.
The Jersey Shore Pops is a big band orchestra with string section, modeled after the orchestras of the Lawrence Welk era which featured a string section and many guest vocalists. The orchestra was founded by entertainer and conductor Linda Gentille in 2009. The orchestra features 21 of the finest New Jersey musicians either born or based in New Jersey. The orchestra is based at the Middle Township Performing Arts Center which is centrally located in the county off the parkway at exit 10. Director of the arts center states,” We were so excited to welcome the Jersey Shore Pops to the PAC for their second season. The first 2010 season was so much more successful than we ever imagined. Several years ago we had The New Jersey Pops here but it was not successful. This is the first time we have ever presented a concert series at the PAC and it was a huge success. We expect the 2011 concert series to sell out before the first concert in June.”
According to Dr. Nick Holland, president of the Jersey Shore Pops,” What makes this orchestra different is that each show is not a typical pops concert, but a show with spectacular entertainment value led by Gentille and her humor and charisma. We also present a multi-media concert with several cameras to show the fantastic piano work of Gentille and other members of the orchestra. These concerts are already the talk of the town and everyone is excited to see this orchestra blossom.”
The first 100 season ticket purchasers will be invited to a special “ Meet the Conductor and Orchestra Reception” on the opening night of June 25 which will be held after the concert. The reception will include wine, coffee and desserts provided by local establishments. The star of the show Peter Oprisko will make an autograph signing appearance at the event.
Individual tickets for the concerts will not go on sale until February 14 and will be $25 advance and $30 at the door. To purchase the discounted 2011 season tickets for the Jersey Shore Pops, call the box office at 609 -463-1924. Tickets can be ordered online at www.JerseyShorePops.org at $80 until December 20 when the prices rises to $90 for the series. The box office is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM for walk ins and is located at the Middle Township High School , Exit 10 (GSP).