Jersey Shore Pops Features ‘Violin Virtuoso Duo’ in Holiday Production

COURT HOUSE – The Middle Township PAC will host the final holiday concert “Christmas at the Cape” with Linda Gentille & The Jersey Shore Pops on Sat., Dec. 3, 2011. This final concert for the orchestra will feature the dynamic violin virtuoso mother/daughter team of Susan and Amina Elsayed and vocalist Jacklyn Buckingham.
Susan Elsayed is Principal violinist and featured soloist with the Jersey Shore Pops. Elsayed studied with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and earned her violin performance Bachelor`s Degree from The Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts. She was the Concertmistress of the Ocean City Pops during the 80`s under the leadership of Frank Ruggieri and currently is also violinist with the Masterworks Choir/Ensemble . Elsayed has performed in the main show rooms of the casinos for such headliners as Frank Sinatra, Josh Groban. Andrea Bocelli and Tony Bennett . featured violinist with the Carl Granieri That`s Italian Show. Elsayed has been performing with her daughter with the Pops since it’s inception in 2009. They have become one of the most popular acts to perform with the Jersey Shore Pops and this concert is expected to be the highlight of the season.
Jacklyn Buckingham made her debut with the Pop in August and was such a huge success, that they made her the first official regular guest vocalist for the orchestra. Buckhingham is a Graduate of Montclair State University with a B.A. in Theater and a minor in Musical Theater. She has performed in numerous musicals including Les Miserables, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The World Goes Round and Cabaret. She is currently a member of the Shaken Not Stirred Players whose ‘Broadway By Request’ show has wowed audiences around the area and recently performed to a sold out audience at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Connecticut.
Linda Gentille is the founding musical director and conductor for the Jersey Shore Pops since 2009. She is a household name at the Jersey Shore as both a performer and musical arranger. She began her career with the great Liberace as a teen and has been a headliner in casinos and performing arts centers around the world. When not conducting the orchestra, she performs on luxury cruise lines, including Princess, Oceania, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean.
The Jersey Shore Pops is a big band orchestra with string section, modeled after the orchestras of the Frank Sinatra era which featured a string section along with the big band sounds. The orchestra features 25 of the finest New Jersey musicians either born or based in New Jersey. The orchestra has been compared to the Philly Pops because like Nero, Gentille is also a pianist conductor and arranger. More and more Philly Pops fans have become season ticket holders for the Jersey Shore Pops because of the reasonable ticket prices and free and convenient parking offered by the venue of the Middle Township Performing Arts Center.
The Pops is the resident orchestra of the Middle Township Performing Arts Center in Middle Township which is the most successful and prestigious performing venue in Cape May County, NJ. The performing arts center, located in the center of the county, is a 1000 seat state of the art facility which was built 10 years ago. Jersey Shore Pops has become the most popular show at the theater since it started in 2009 and is the first orchestral series to be held at the PAC. Kay Aspell, Managing Director of the center says,” Gentille is a household name down here at the shore and has been for years since she performed at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City for Donald Trump. As a piano soloist she was the biggest draw for us here at the PAC and now with the Jersey Shore Pops orchestra, she is the hottest ticket in town. People say she is better than Nero and has more stage charisma! We are so excited that this has been such a success. Our patrons can’t wait for the 2012 season show announcements. ”
Some of the talented Jersey Shore Pop’s orchestra members include Clifford Buggs, (Trumpet), renowned trumpet soloist and former leader of the Coast Guard Band in Cape May, John Drechen, Band Director at Lower Cape May Regional High School (Trumpet), Andy Laslasis (Bass), Ray Deeley (Percussion) Angela Guido, Ted Blohm and Jim Tangney (Trombone), Paul Butler, Cindy Yenloevich , Christopher Kobik and Walter Palmer on Saxaphone, Clarinet and Flute. The newly added string section includes: Susanne Di Vincenzo, Briana Saddler, Sandy Miller, Susan Elsayed, Amina Elsayed, Amy Cave, Mary Jo Zahradnik and Edward Lin. The musicians reflect a collaboration between the Pops and the Atlantic Youth String Orchestra.
Clifford Buggs the lead trumpet, is also the assistant musical arranger to Gentille. Buggs recently retired from the Coast Guard in Cape May, New Jersey where he led the Coast Guard Military Band for many years. Buggs stated, “ I was looking for a musical opportunity that would keep me sharp after retiring from the Coast Guard. The timing was perfect for me to join the Jersey Shore Pops in 2009 and I haven’t looked back since. I admire and respect Gentille for her dedication to the orchestra and her vision to create something new and exciting at the Shore. When most orchestras were downsizing, she was upsizing and that takes guts! I like many other members of the orchestra, feel this is the start of something big. It is amazing to see the theater filled each show with people who love the music and Gentille’s showmanship. With her musicianship and charisma, she is a combination of Nero and Liberace that no one has ever seen before. When we perform, it is not just a concert but a high energy and entertaining show.
Individual tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. A special discounted church/club group rate is available for 20 or more at only $20 a ticket. To purchase tickets for “ Christmas at the Cape” with Linda Gentille & The Jersey Shore Pops, call BP Ticket Office at 800-838-3006 . Tickets can be ordered online at www.JerseyShorePops.org. The box office at the PAC is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. for walk in ticket purchases and is located at the Middle Township High School , Exit 10 (GSP).
Photos: Pops special guest artists Susan and Amina Elsayed.