LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Tucson Pops Friends,

 65 YEARS!  Quite a milestone for any performing arts group and yet here we are.  I wonder if Georges DeMeester ever thought that Tucson would support his dream of free concerts in the park for 65 years.

I think he would be so pleased and so would the many others that gave their hearts and soul to the survival of the Tucson Pops Orchestra.  Maestro Bucky Steele who Georges passed the baton to all those years ago, Dottie Spence who ran the organization for over 40 years and our dear Dave Sitton who was taken from us too soon.  I just know he would be singing Mac the Knife at our opening concert if he were with us and he would be so proud that we have soldiered on in his absence to keep Music Under the Stars™ alive. 

Maestro Laszlo Veres who took over from Bucky Steele, has truly elevated every performance for the past 21 years.  As he leads us into this special year, he is considering who he would like to hand over the baton to…no simple task as, I am sure you would agree, he is a very hard act to follow.   Throughout the spring season Laszlo will welcome possible candidates to guest conduct for 30 minutes during four of the six concerts. Out of those four, two will be selected to conduct full concerts in the fall.  As Friends of the Pops we hope you will weigh in with your input and impressions to better help us decide on a successor who can fill those very big Maestro shoes.  So sit back and enjoy the ride.

Thank you for joining us on this wonderful journey.   

 JoAnna Westcott
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President,
Tucson Pops Orchestra