The New York Pops Presents John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, 12/16 & 17

The New York Pops orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Steven Reineke, celebrates the holidays with swinging seasonal favorites on December 16 and 17, 2011 at 8:00pm. Reineke has been heralded by The New York Times as "young and vigorous, with a playful attitude that has been a pops orchestral tradition since the heyday of Arthur Fiedler...a polished, welcoming host." John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, the couple The New York Times called "a musical match made in heaven," will perform with the orchestra in a program featuring festive holiday tunes such as "We Need a Little Christmas", "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", "Go Tell It On the Mountain", "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy", "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" and "Little Bolero Boy". Essential Voices USA, conducted by Judith Cluman, will also join The New York Pops in the festive concert at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage.

John Pizzarelli is a Grammy Award nominated jazz guitarist and singer. Pizzarelli has established himself as one of the prime interpreters of the Great American Songbook and beyond, bringing to his work the cool jazz flavor of his guitar playing and singing. He is both a bandleader and solo performer, and has been a special guest on recordings for artists such as James Taylor, Natalie Cole, Kristin Chenoweth, Donna Summer, Roberta Flack, Rosemary Clooney, Ruby Braff, Johnny Frigo, Buddy DeFranco, Harry Allen and, his father Bucky Pizzarelli. Pizzarelli co-hosts a nationally syndicated radio program called "Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli," with his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey.

Jessica Molaskey - the critically acclaimed actress and vocalist whose singing voice has been compared to Peggy Lee, Chris Connor, k.d. lang and even Chet Baker - recently released her new CD, A Kiss To Build A Dream On, on the Arbors Jazz label. Her previous CD, Sitting In Limbo debuted on the Billboard jazz chart in May 2007. Molaskey has sung in concert from Lincoln Center to Carnegie Hall, and has had the great honor of performing at the Montreal Jazz festival. Jessica has performed at Feinstein's at Loews Regency, the Oak Room in New York's Algonquin Hotel and the Café Carlyle, among other prestigious venues. She is a veteran of a dozen Broadway shows including the revival of Stephen Sondheim. and James Lapine's Sunday In The Park With George, which was nominated for nine 2008 Tony Awards. She has also appeared in A Man of No Importance at Lincoln Center, written by Terrance McNally, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Parade, directed by Hal Prince, Dream, Tommy, Crazy For You, Les Miserables, City of Angels, Chess, Cats and Oklahoma! Jessica has premiered music written by Ricky Ian Gordon, Adam Guettel, Jason Robert Brown, Michael John LaChiusa, and Stephen Sondheim. She co-hosts the nationally syndicated radio program, Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli, on which they have interviewed such stars as Tony Danza, Liza Minnelli and Regis Philbin.

Steven Reineke's boundless enthusiasm and exceptional artistry have made him one of the nation's most sought-after pops conductors, composers and arrangers. As Music Director of The New York Pops, Reineke conducts the orchestra's annual Carnegie Hall concert series, leads concert tours, recordings and nationwide telecasts. Mr. Reineke is the newly appointed Principal Pops Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he serves as Principal Pops Conductor of the Long Beach and Modesto Symphony Orchestras. Previously, he was Associate Conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, where for fifteen years he served as a composer, arranger and conducting protégé of the late celebrated pops conductor Erich Kunzel. Steven Reineke's notable guest conducting appearances include the Boston Pops, Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra and his debut at the Hollywood Bowl in 2007. Reineke is also an established symphonic composer, with his works most recently performed by the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic.

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. Led by Music Director Steven Reineke, the orchestra performs an annual subscription series and birthday gala at Carnegie Hall, enjoying one of their highest subscription renewal rates. The New York Pops was founded by Skitch Henderson in 1983 with a mission to create greater public awareness and appreciation of America's rich musical heritage. Along with performing at Carnegie Hall, The New York Pops tours throughout the world and gives free concerts in New York City parks. The New York Pops' extensive education programs allow thousands of public schoolchildren to participate in concert and music-making experiences at Carnegie Hall and in schools throughout the five boroughs of New York City.

Single tickets are priced from $37 to $108. Purchases can be made at the Carnegie Hall Box Office (57th Street and 7th Avenue) or by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800. Visit www.carnegiehall.org for more information.

Photo Credit: BWW-Staff

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