Philharmonic Pops to feature tribute to Louis Armstrong and music of New Orleans

SCRANTON — A tribute to jazz legend Louis Armstrong and the music of New Orleans are on the bill when the Northeastern Pennsylvania PhilharmonPNC Pops series will opens Oct. 16 at the new Performing Arts Center at the Dallas High School and Oct. 17 at the Theater at Lackawanna College, Scranton. Both concerts begin at 8 p.m.

Featured guest artist will be acclaimed trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling, who has performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra, on PBS, and on the Grammy Awards. An accomplished actor, Stripling was chosen, following a worldwide search, to star in the lead role of “Satchmo,” as Armstrong was affectionately called, for the Broadway bound musical. Some of the musical highlights of the concert will include “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “Saint James Infirmary,” “Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans,” “Ain’t Misbehavin,” and “I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues.”

This concert will mark the Philharmonic’s first performance in the new Dallas Performing Arts Center. According to Philharmonic Executive Director Nancy Sanderson, several of the Philharmonic’s musicians performed there for students last year and were so impressed by the excellent acoustics and the beautiful theater that they asked to perform a main stage concert there. Ms. Sanderson also notes the national trend toward taking the orchestra to the audience and hopes that easy access to this new, beautiful Back Mountain concert hall will entice new concert goers. The Performing Arts Center at Dallas High School is located at 2030 Conyngham Avenue, Dallas, and there is free, accessible parking.

Tickets may be purchased at www.NEPAPHIL.org, by calling the Philharmonic office at 570.270.4444 or at the door. Season tickets to the Pops are still available and tickets to individual concerts of the 2015-2016 season can be purchased at this time. Concert tickets range in price from $30-$55 and student admission for this concert is $15. For additional information or to make donations, check the website or call the Philharmonic office.

For additional information contact Executive Director, Nancy Sanderson or Sandy Davis at 570-270-4444.

Guest artist trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling will take center stage with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic Oct. 16 at the New Performing Arts Center, Dallas High School, and Oct. 17, at the Theater at Lackawanna College, Scranton.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Byron-Stripling.jpg.optimal.jpgGuest artist trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling will take center stage with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic Oct. 16 at the New Performing Arts Center, Dallas High School, and Oct. 17, at the Theater at Lackawanna College, Scranton. Submitted photo