Tucson, AZ--- Since its founding in 1955, the Tucson Pops Orchestra has delivered outstanding entertainment without admission fees to the Tucson public for the past 70 seasons. Supported by grants, local sponsors, and audience donations, the organization opens their 2025 spring season on Mother’s Day May 11th at 7pm at the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center at Reid Park, with additional concerts on Sundays May18 and 25.
Artistic Director and Conductor Khris Dodge who took over the Maestro position in 2023, endeavors to create programs for each performance that reflect the spirit of the Southwest and the beautiful blend of traditions that inform Tucson’s unique culture. "We are always doing something new and different at each of our concerts, and this Spring season is certainly no exception to that. I truly enjoy working with the great musicians in the orchestra as well as combining their talents with our many guest artists."
The Tucson Pops Board of Directors is pleased to announce the hiring of James Reel as the new Executive Director of the organization. Reel brings with him a wealth of experience including board and management work with such organizations as Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, The Tucson Desert Song Festival and the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra. “I'm honored to have been invited to join the Tucson Pops Orchestra as its executive director. I'm here to support the orchestra's unique 70-year mission: To present professional musicians in free concerts of the widest possible range of styles, from light classics through popular standards to today's leading regional artists. Since I was a kid, I've always sought new musical experiences, and every Tucson Pops concert introduces me, and potentially anyone else in town, to something or someone delightfully different”.
TUCSON POPS ORCHESTRA 2025 SPRING SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
May 11 – Mother’s Day Concert – Special guests El Mariachi Tapatio de Tucson (director Alberto Ranjel). The orchestra will perform a new composition titled Sonoran Rivers, by local composer Yuanyuan Kay HE with narration written by Alison Hawthorne Deming. The piece tells the story of the Santa Cruz Watershed and its interactions with people through time, grounding the audience in a sense of place and history. The orchestra will pay homage to mothers throughout the evening.
May 18 –Known as “Golden Voice of Tucson”, award winning vocalist Katherine Byrnes joins the orchestra for a celebration of songs from Carole King’s Tapestry Album. The wonderfully talented Ballet Tucson will perform alongside Ms. Byrnes with a new ballet performance as well as a pas de deux from Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky).
May 25 - Memorial Day Concert welcomes the internationally renowned Tucson Boys Chorus. This concert will mark the final performance of their longtime director Julian Acklerly who retires in June after 45 years at the helm. The orchestra will perform a variety of patriotic favorites throughout the evening.
All Tucson Pops Concerts are performed at 7pm at the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center at Reid Park (in Randolph Park) located at 900 S Randolph Way off Country Club Road just north of 22nd Street. Parking and shuttle service is also available at the Randolph Park Golf Course parking lot, Alvernon Way just north of 22nd Street.
The Food Truck Roundup provides a delectable selection of picnic provisions to enjoy during each concert:
MAY 11th: Sarge's Cheesecake, Quesadillas & More, Colonel Mustard Hot Dogs, Pops Kettle Corn, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Fiesta Filipina and SAAFB Free Coffee Corner
MAY 18th:: Sarge's Cheesecake, Quesadillas & More, SLY Dog, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Pops Kettle Corn, Fiesta Filipina and SAAFB Free Coffee Corner
MAY 25th: Sarge's Cheesecake, Quesadillas & More, Pops Kettle Corn, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Fiesta Filipina, Drew of Drew's Dog and SAAFB Free Coffee Corner
2025 Sponsor Support
The fall 2025 concert series is sponsored by Long Realty Companies, Carelon Healthcare Services, Tucson Parks & Recreation and Friends of the Pops with additional support from the Arizona Commission on the Arts.
The Tucson Pops Orchestra • Sharing the joy of live music since 1955
About Music Under the Stars™
The Tucson Pops Orchestra has provided outdoor concerts to Tucson and southern Arizona audiences since 1955. Founded by Georges DeMeester and Ernest Hoffman with just 22 musicians, the orchestra has since grown to 50 professional members that perform for audiences of up to 8,500. Before settling in their seasonal location at the DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center at Reid Park, the orchestra used to perform in various locations around the community. In 1973, Charles ‘Bucky” Steele took over as conductor, followed by Laszlo Veres who retired and passed the baton to Khris Dodge in the fall of 2022. Now in its 70th year, with support from Tucson Parks and Recreation, corporate partners and Friends of the Pops, the Tucson Pops Orchestra aims to continue to fulfill its mission of providing Music Under the Stars™ to the community for many more years to come. For more information on the Tucson Pops Orchestra visit us on facebook.com or at tucsonpops.org or call (520) 722-5853. Detailed bios and photos of artists are available upon request.
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