Lea Salonga to Perform at Global Pop at the Music Center

The Blue Ribbon presents Global Pop at the Music Center, concerts featuring popular performing artists representing some of the richly diverse communities that make Los Angeles their home.  Presented at the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, Global Pop at the Music Center features some of the most celebrated international pop music stars performing today.

In its inaugural year, Global Pop at the Music Center will showcase Tony® Award-winning singer Filipino Lea Salonga, best known for her acclaimed portrayal of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon, on Friday, July 11 at 8:30 pm and the South Korean R&B singing sensation Fly to the Sky on Friday, July 25 at 8 pm.

Josephine Ramirez  Vice President, Programming and Presenting at the Music Center said, "These are popular performers from all around the world who have large fan bases in Southern California.  We are thrilled to be presenting them here for audiences who know them from their recordings or live appearances in their home countries, and for new audiences who are being introduced to them through Global Pop at the Music Center.  We are also hoping that many of these audience members will be making their first of many visits to Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Global Pop at the Music Center is presented by The Blue Ribbon.  Founded by Dorothy Chandler in 1968, The Blue Ribbon is a support group of women leaders serving the Center, its resident companies and its arts education programs.

Lea Salonga is the award-winning singer and actress is best known for her acclaimed portrayal of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon. She also brought to life the singing voice of the title role in Disney's Mulan ("Reflection") and Princess Jasmine's classic song "A Whole New World," in Disney's Aladdin.

She made her Music Center debut in 2002 in the lead role in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song at the Mark Taper Forum. Born and raised in the Philippines, Ms. Salonga was the first Asian to play Eponine in the musical Les Misérables on Broadway and has received numerous honors and awards including the Olivier, Tony ®, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Ovation, and Theatre World Awards.

In 2007, Ms. Salonga released her first studio album in seven years called "Inspired," which has been certified platinum, and finished another stint in the musical Les Misérables on Broadway, this time as Fantine. She will appear in the lead role in Broadway Asia Entertainment's international tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella in the Summer of 2008.

Since 1999, South Korean R&B pop duo Fly to the Sky have been one of the most successful artist pairings in South Korea and have quickly generated a huge fan base in the United States.  Consisting of U.S.-born Brian Joo and South Korean native Hwanhee, Fly to the Sky have sold millions of records and performed for tens of thousands of fans. They have received numerous honors including Best New Artist at the SBS Gayo Daejun Awards in 2000 which propelled them into the pop world.

Fly to the Sky showcases a diverse and evolving musical style that led the duo to a successful collaboration with R&B singer Brian McKnight. They have quickly become one of the most sought-after live performers in the U.S. as demonstrated by their most recent appearance in front of a sold out crowd at the Korean Music Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.
Their appearance at Walt Disney Concert Hall is one of their few U.S. engagements before
resuming an international tour.

Tickets for both Global Pop concerts are now on sale at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office, 111 South Grand Avenue, and at all Ticketmaster outlets.  Tickets are also available on line at www.ticketmaster.com, and Ticketmaster phone charge at 213-365-3500 or 714-740-7878.  For groups email globalpop@musiccenter.org.

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