Rosemont-Arroyo Location For POPS Announced
By Bill Peters
Published: Thursday, August 20th, 2009
Paul Jan Zdunek’s “Plan for a Sustainable Recovery” to bring financial solidarity to the Pasadena Symphony Association is on-track and continuing smoothly. Zdunek, the Pasadena Symphony Association’s Chief Executive Officer, put his plan in place last year to make changes from top to bottom in the managing of its two orchestras, the Pasadena Symphony and the Pasadena Pops. Yesterday (Friday, Aug. 14) Zdunek brought the Association’s leaders to a podium across the street from the Rose Bowl’s south entrance to unveil the Pasadena Pops Orchestra’s new venue which will be on the lawn adjacent to the Rose Bowl.
President of the Pasadena Symphony Association Board of Directors, Diane Rankin, staff, community leaders and press were at the announcement to share in the preview of next season’s location and program.
Now known to fans of many events at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco as Area H, the lawn will become the home for performances of the Pasadena Pops starting next season. No fancy name has yet emerged, but in due time the marketing folks within the Association are sure to find a suitable moniker. It is to be hoped that a name will emerge quickly since ticket sales were announced to open Aug. 14.
Leaving the intimate and quite beautiful Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge has caused pangs of regret from those who have attended these summer frolics for the past decade. Some have voiced their opinions that they will not support the move. But, when the summer fun is surveyed and the wonderful music that the Pasadena Symphony musicians produce under Rachael Worby begins, the Association believes the mood of regular subscribers will change. Of course, the wooing of converts will be harder to overcome unless a sexy name is attached to the event. Area H won’t cut it.
Rachael Worby, conductor of the Pops, is greatly enthused about the change to Pasadena pointing out that the La Cañada Flintridge location has easily attracted 3,000 patrons; whoever, it took two concerts to reach that size audience. The Rose Bowl location on the lawn will accommodate anywhere from 4,000 to 10,000 according to Symphony Association officials. Worby kidded, “We’re going to get enough people to attend our concerts that we’ll move inside the Rose Bowl.”
Zdunek and Worby unveiled Grant Poznick’s rendering of the scoop-winged moderne designed bandshell that will give a necessary focus to the flat lawn and also enhance music projection. Some hand-waving by Association officials toward the concert area indicated that additional decorative surroundings may also be used along the sides. Poznick, who drew the designed bandshell, is a student at the Art Center School of Design, a school that will figure in public relations moves Zdunek plans to announce next month.
The summer program will consist of four concerts, the first a POPS Spectacular, the second I Love New York, the third, All That Jazz; and finally, Hooray for Hollywood. You can bet that the opening concert, June 19, 2010 will have a fireworks display surrounded by “1812” overture, patriotic marches and enough classical fluff to make you believe you heard some serious music. The balance of the summer season, appropriately, will contain similar music, though without fireworks. Picnicking will be available, perhaps an opportunity to order a picnic basket, parking will be convenient, and the orchestra of Symphony musicians will be sensational.
Early on Zdunek announced as part of the recovery program, that there would be a limited use of guest artists and musical arrangements used that can accommodate smaller orchestras. Also, there was a suggestion that the City of Pasadena might be willing to waive its fees for use of the lawn area for the Pops since it is often referred to as “a cultural icon”.
At the press conference, though, Zdunek passed the question of what the financial arrangement with the city would be to Mayor Bill Bogaard. Bogaard said he wasn’t certain just what had been worked out. Certainly the fees at Descanso Garden were difficult for the group to meet. Zdunek did say that this year’s budget for the Pops at Descanso was about $700,000 and he anticipates that with all the changes now in place, the budget would not exceed $300,000.
The layout of the seating plan is designed to take advantage of the semi-circular front of the stage, thereby creating top-flight viewing. Upfront, encircling the stage, will be the Conductor’s Circle, the best tables reserved for donors of $1,000 or more to the Association. The arc of tables surrounding the bandshell will continue in three sections. At the rear will be a section offering reasonably priced tickets for blanket and chair lawn seating. The Conductor’s Circle season ticket pricing (after donation) starts at $3,600 for a table of 10 for the season and $900 single concert.
Section A, B, and C are offered in tables of either 10 or six at a reduced price. Single seats at a table are priced at $360 for a season subscription and from $56 to $90 for an individual concert. Lawn seating pricing for a single concert will range from $10 to $25. Students availing themselves of the Association’s “Soundcheck” Season Pass will be charged $30 which allows entrance to all concerts and includes the promise to find the best available seats.
Current subscribers are assured that by renewing their seats immediately by mail or by calling (626) 793-7172, Ext. 16, they will have priority in seating location and seating requests. Those who now wish to subscribe due to the increased interest in attending concerts at the new Pasadena location are encouraged to place their orders to be in line for the best seating available after current subscribers’ orders are filled.
The Pasadena Symphony’s 2009-2010 program was also announced by conductor Jorge Mester. That program will be the focus of a future article.
Now known to fans of many events at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco as Area H, the lawn will become the home for performances of the Pasadena Pops starting next season. No fancy name has yet emerged, but in due time the marketing folks within the Association are sure to find a suitable moniker. It is to be hoped that a name will emerge quickly since ticket sales were announced to open Aug. 14. Leaving the intimate and quite beautiful Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge has caused pangs of regret from those who have attended these summer frolics for the past decade. Some have voiced their opinions that they will not support the move. But, when the summer fun is surveyed and the wonderful music that the Pasadena Symphony musicians produce under Rachael Worby begins, the Association believes the mood of regular subscribers will change. Of course, the wooing of converts will be harder to overcome unless a sexy name is attached to the event. Area H won’t cut it.
Rachael Worby, conductor of the Pops, is greatly enthused about the change to Pasadena pointing out that the La Cañada Flintridge location has easily attracted 3,000 patrons; whoever, it took two concerts to reach that size audience. The Rose Bowl location on the lawn will accommodate anywhere from 4,000 to 10,000 according to Symphony Association officials. Worby kidded, “We’re going to get enough people to attend our concerts that we’ll move inside the Rose Bowl.”
Zdunek and Worby unveiled Grant Poznick’s rendering of the scoop-winged moderne designed bandshell that will give a necessary focus to the flat lawn and also enhance music projection. Some hand-waving by Association officials toward the concert area indicated that additional decorative surroundings may also be used along the sides. Poznick, who drew the designed bandshell, is a student at the Art Center School of Design, a school that will figure in public relations moves Zdunek plans to announce next month.
The summer program will consist of four concerts, the first a POPS Spectacular, the second I Love New York, the third, All That Jazz; and finally, Hooray for Hollywood. You can bet that the opening concert, June 19, 2010 will have a fireworks display surrounded by “1812” overture, patriotic marches and enough classical fluff to make you believe you heard some serious music. The balance of the summer season, appropriately, will contain similar music, though without fireworks. Picnicking will be available, perhaps an opportunity to order a picnic basket, parking will be convenient, and the orchestra of Symphony musicians will be sensational.
Early on Zdunek announced as part of the recovery program, that there would be a limited use of guest artists and musical arrangements used that can accommodate smaller orchestras. Also, there was a suggestion that the City of Pasadena might be willing to waive its fees for use of the lawn area for the Pops since it is often referred to as “a cultural icon”. At the press conference, though, Zdunek passed the question of what the financial arrangement with the city would be to Mayor Bill Bogaard. Bogaard said he wasn’t certain just what had been worked out. Certainly the fees at Descanso Garden were difficult for the group to meet. Zdunek did say that this year’s budget for the Pops at Descanso was about $700,000 and he anticipates that with all the changes now in place, the budget would not exceed $300,000.
The layout of the seating plan is designed to take advantage of the semi-circular front of the stage, thereby creating top-flight viewing. Upfront, encircling the stage, will be the Conductor’s Circle, the best tables reserved for donors of $1,000 or more to the Association. The arc of tables surrounding the bandshell will continue in three sections. At the rear will be a section offering reasonably priced tickets for blanket and chair lawn seating.
The Conductor’s Circle season ticket pricing (after donation) starts at $3,600 for a table of 10 for the season and $900 single concert. Section A, B, and C are offered in tables of either 10 or six at a reduced price. Single seats at a table are priced at $360 for a season subscription and from $56 to $90 for an individual concert. Lawn seating pricing for a single concert will range from $10 to $25. Students availing themselves of the Association’s “Soundcheck” Season Pass will be charged $30 which allows entrance to all concerts and includes the promise to find the best available seats.
Current subscribers are assured that by renewing their seats immediately by mail or by calling (626) 793-7172, Ext. 16, they will have priority in seating location and seating requests. Those who now wish to subscribe due to the increased interest in attending concerts at the new Pasadena location are encouraged to place their orders to be in line for the best seating available after current subscribers’ orders are filled.
The Pasadena Symphony’s 2009-2010 program was also announced by conductor Jorge Mester. That program will be the focus of a future article.
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