The Canton Symphony Orchestra Presents a Pops Concert with MATT COREY, 4/12

McKinley High School alum, Matt Corey, has travelled to more than 300 college campuses nationwide and several countries with his saxophone. He returns to his hometown April 12 for a Pops concert with the Canton Symphony Orchestra.

"It's kind of wild that I am performing with the Canton Symphony," Corey stated. "When I was in college a bunch of my friends who play traditional orchestral instruments auditioned for the orchestra, but weren't quite ready to be in it. Who would have thought that I, the saxophone player, would be the one to end up performing with them?"

After graduating from McKinley, Corey studied classical saxophone, music education and jazz performance at Youngstown State University. He got his big break while performing at Walt Disney World where he was the featured performer in Blast! 2 Shockwave and later in London's Queen's Theatre production of Blast! Cyberjam. Corey's career has since lead him to performances with Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey Orchestras and pop, hip hop and rock performers including Lil Wayne, Dave Matthews Band, Joe Walsh of the Eagles B.o.B. and many others.

For the Pops concert, April 12 at 8:00pm at the Canton Palace Theatre, Corey and the orchestra will perform a variety of pop music specially arranged for the concert by Kevin Martinez, who also arranged the music for last season's Pops concert with the Speedbumps. The song list includes hits originally written and performed by the likes of Michael Jackson, Cee Lo Green, Paul Simon, Michael McDonald and Bruno Mars. Since the concert in completely instrumental, it is appropriate for family members of all ages. Local percussion sensation, Elec Simon will appear as a special guest on a number of the songs.

Tickets start at $18 and are available at CantonSymphony.org, the CSO box office located inside the Cultural Center for the Arts (1001 Market Ave. N, Canton - open weekdays 10am to 2pm), or by phone at 330-452-2094.

Founded in 1937, the Canton Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional ensemble and organization dedicated to performing concerts that enrich, educate and entertain. Under the direction of Gerhardt Zimmermann, the orchestra performs classical, pops, holiday, and educational programs.