Ann Hampton Callaway Set for Cincinnati Pops' Holiday Concert, 12/13-15

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra will perform its annual "Holiday Pops" concert December 13-15 (Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.) at historic Music Hall under the direction of "Mr. Christmas," Pops Conductor John Morris Russell. Multiplatinum-selling vocalist and Broadway veteran Ann Hampton Callaway returns to the Pops as guest artist, performing traditional holiday favorites and up-and-coming classics such as "My Favorites Things," "I Wonder as I Wander," and "Somewhere in my Memory" (from John Williams' Home Alone). The rich Pops orchestration, along with the May Festival Youth Chorus, Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble and the ever-popular cloggers from the Studio for Dance of Cincinnati, give life to these and other familiar tunes in this highly-entertaining family tradition.

In addition to familiar tunes and sing-alongs, the concert also includes several pieces from the Cincinnati Pops' album, Home for the Holidays (2012 Fanfare Cincinnati), including "I Believe," a work written by Emmy Award-winning songwriters William Schermerhorn and Wesley Whatley for the Macy's annual holiday Believe campaign.

The December 13-15 performance of Holiday Pops is part of the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra's rich holiday calendar. Liz Callaway (coincidentally, sister of Ann Hampton Callaway) headlines the world concert premiere of Macy's Yes, Virginia in Concert on Saturday, December 13 (2 p.m.). Amy Grant returns to Music Hall to perform with the Pops, this time with husband and country music legend Vince Gill, for a special one-night-only performance on December 17. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra presents Handel's Messiah on Sunday, December 22, and the CSO is also the official orchestra of the Cincinnati Ballet and will perform during the company's annual performances of The Nutcracker.

Tickets for Holiday Pops are currently available and start at $25 ($10/children). Last year's Holiday Pops concerts featuring Amy Grant completely sold out. More information and tickets are available by visiting www.cincinnatipops.org or calling (513) 381-3300.

Ann Hampton Callaway, one of the leading champions of the Great American Songbook, has made her mark as a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, educator, TV host and producer. She won the Theater World Award and received a Tony nomination for her starring role in the roadway musical Swing! Ms. Callaway made her Hollywood screen debut in Robert DeNiro's The Good Shepherd and was featured in the soundtrack of Queen Latifah's Last Holiday. She has written more than 250 songs, including two Platinum Award-winning hits for Barbra Streisand and the theme for the hit TV series The Nanny. Ms. Callaway produced and hosted two TV specials called Singer's Spotlight with guests Liza Minnelli and Christine Ebersole and is in the planning stages for a radio series. She performs the critically acclaimed acts Sibling Revelry and Boom! with Broadway star and sister Liz Callaway, and their CD Boom! Live at Birdland was released to rave reviews, debuting at no. 25 on the Billboard Jazz chart. This year, Ann Hampton Callaway has taken the symphony world by storm with her tribute to her legendary mentor in The Streisand Songbook, which she premiered with The Boston Pops and will be touring nationwide in 2013-14. Ms. Callaway has recorded 12 solo CDs, including the celebrated At Last and is a guest artist on more than 45 CDs. Please visit annhamptoncallaway.com for more information.