Megan Hilty and Brian d'Arcy James Join the New York Pops for Tilles Center Gala Tonight

Tonight, October 22, 2016 at 8:30PM, The New York Pops, led by Music Director Steven Reineke, will join forces with Broadway, TV, and film stars Megan Hilty and Brian d'Arcy James at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at LIU Post. The performance is Tilles Center's annual benefit Gala, and will honor LIU Post alumni Lisa and Rob Arning.

Megan Hilty made her Broadway debut in Wicked opposite Tony Award winner Idina Menzel and shot to stardom when she her starring role in Broadway's 9 to 5: The Musical as Doralee earned her the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Drama League Award, and an Ovation Award. She has released two solo albums and has made appearances on TV shows such as Bones, The Closer, Desperate Housewives, CSI, and Ugly Betty.

Brian d'Arcy James is a three-time Tony nominee, and an Obie and Drama Desk Award winner. Brian was most recently seen in the Broadway musical Something Rotten! and was nominated for the 2015 Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, and Drama League Distinguished Performance Award. Brian was awarded the 2016 SAG Award, Critics Choice Award, Gotham Award and the Independent Spirit's Robert Altman Award for Best Ensemble for his portrayal of Matt Carroll in the 2016 Oscar-winning Best Picture Spotlight.

THE NEW YORK POPS is the largest independent pops orchestra in the United States, and the only professional symphonic orchestra in New York City specializing in popular music. Under the leadership of dynamic Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, The New York Pops continues to re-imagine orchestral pops music. The orchestra performs an annual subscription series and birthday gala at Carnegie Hall, as well as a summer concert series at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY. The New York Pops is dedicated to lifelong learning, and collaborates with public schools, community organizations, children's hospitals, and senior centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City. PopsEd allows thousands of New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds to participate in fully customizable music programs that blend traditional education with pure fun. Visit www.newyorkpops.org for more information. Follow The New York Pops on Facebook (facebook.com/newyorkpops), Instagram (@thenewyorkpops), and Twitter (@newyorkpops).

Steven Reineke is the Music Director of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, Principal Pops Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Principal Pops Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Principal Pops Conductor Designate for the Houston Symphony, beginning in the 2017-2018 season. Mr. Reineke is a frequent guest conductor with The Philadelphia Orchestra and has been on the podium with the Boston Pops, The Cleveland Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia. His extensive North American conducting appearances include San Francisco, Houston, Seattle, Edmonton and Pittsburgh. As the creator of more than one hundred orchestral arrangements for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Mr. Reineke's work has been performed worldwide, and can be heard on numerous Cincinnati Pops Orchestra recordings on the Telarc label. His symphonic works Celebration Fanfare, Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Casey at the Bat are performed frequently in North America. His numerous wind ensemble compositions are published by the C.L. Barnhouse Company and are performed by concert bands around the world. A native of Ohio, Mr. Reineke is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio, where he earned bachelor of music degrees with honors in both trumpet performance and music composition. He currently resides in New York City with his husband, Eric Gabbard.

Rob and Lisa Arning met on campus sophomore year of college and graduated from LIU Post in 1984. They continue to have deep roots with the university and Tilles Center. In fact, as a student, Rob's on-campus job was at Tilles Center. Before graduating, Rob joined the Long Island Office of KPMG as a part time pre-professional. He later joined the New York Office, where he is now a partner, and serves as the Vice Chair of Market Development - responsible for driving client care and quality growth for KPMG in the U.S. As a member of KPMG's US Management Committee and the firm's Global Sales & Markets Team, he is deeply committed to serving KPMG's clients and helping business leaders navigate the complexity and disruption in today's environment. Rob truly enjoys mentoring young professionals and has been a regular guest speaker at LIU Post College of Management, where he sits on the Executive Board of Advisors and the Advisory Board for The School of Professional Accountancy. Rob is also active in other organizations including Carnegie Hall, the American Cancer Society, P.E.N.C.I.L., Villanova University and Loyola University.

Lisa continued her education at LIU Post, graduating with an MBA in 1991. After a successful career in financial services, she stayed home to raise their children and founded Admission Technician, a Long Island-based firm that helps families navigate the college admissions process. Her focus on education continues in her charitable work as the national co-leader of KPMG's Family for Literacy program, with the goal to eradicate childhood illiteracy across the country. In addition, Lisa is committed to the Long Island business and non-profit community. She serves as the president of the Long Island Chapter of Ellevate, a global women's networking organization and has partnered with Tilles Center to host women's educational and networking events. Lisa sits on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Nutrition Network (The INN), addressing hunger and homelessness on Long Island and has had a variety of volunteer roles for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Chaminade High School, Sacred Heart Academy, St. Anne's Church and the Garden City Parent Teacher Association.

Since graduating in 1984, the Arning family connections remain strong with the university, often taking the opportunity to drive through the campus on weekends. Rob and Lisa are both very committed to education and the importance of access to education for all. They are proud of their tradition of being on-going members and contributors to LIU Post and Tilles Center.

Tickets range from $40 - $125 and are available online at tillescenter.org, or Ticketmaster.com, in person at Tilles Center's box office or by telephone at 516.299.3100 or 1.800.745.3000. The box office is open Monday-Saturday from 1-6 pm.

For Gala Benefactor tickets, including a 6 pm dinner, premium concert seating, and a post-concert cabaret show with open bar, Sponsorship packages or Gala journal advertising contact Alexandra Marrs at 516.299.3825 or alexandra.marrs@liu.edu

The New York Pops is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely through the generosity of individual donations, institutional grants, and concert income. Dates, artists and programs are subject to change.

Photo Credits: Reineke by Michael Tammaro; Hilty by Nathan Johnson; James by Jordan Matter.