CSO's 2018 Picnic With The Pops Begins June 16 With Little River Band And Debut Of New Pops Conductor
By: Stephi Wild May. 17, 2018
The Columbus Symphony kicks off the 2018 Nationwide Picnic with the Pops on Saturday, June 16, with multi-platinum rock group, Little River Band. The concert will also be the Columbus debut of new CSO Principal Pops Conductor Stuart Chafetz, one of the leading pops conductors in America today, who will helm most of the Picnic with the Pops concerts this season.
"I can't wait to begin this fabulous summer season," stated Chafetz. "It's such a diverse showcase of musical genres and talent - all in collaboration with the fabulous Columbus Symphony. I look forward to seeing you all at Picnic with the Pops!"
The 2018 Picnic with the Pops is the 35th season for the series and the 7th season downtown at the Columbus Commons.
Little River Band
Saturday, June 16
Stuart Chafetz, conductor
Dubbed "the best singing band in the world" by Eagles founding member Glenn Frey, the Little River Band enjoyed huge chart success throughout the '70s and '80s with multi-platinum albums and chart-topping hits including "Reminiscing," "Lonesome Loser," "The Night Owls," "Take It Easy on Me," "The Other Guy," and "It's A Long Way There."
Chafetz, a conductor with a dynamic podium demeanor and a refined sense of audience engagement, is increasingly in demand with orchestras across the continent. He's had the privilege to work with renowned artists such as Chris Botti, 2 Cellos, Michael Bolton, America, Roberta Flack, George Benson, Richard Chamberlain, The Chieftains, Jennifer Holliday, John Denver, Marvin Hamlisch, Thomas Hampson, Wynonna Judd, Jim Nabors, Randy Newman, Jon Kimura Parker, and Bernadette Peters.
He previously held posts as resident conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and associate conductor of the Louisville Orchestra, annually leads the Spring Ballet at the world-renowned Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Chafetz has also conducted the annual Nutcracker performances with Ballet Hawaii and principals from the American Ballet Theatre, and has led numerous concerts with the Maui Symphony and Pops.
In addition to his conducting career, Chafetz is also a well-known timpanist. In the summers, Chafetz spends his time at the Chautauqua Institution where he conducts the annual Fourth of July and Opera Pops concerts with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in addition to his role as that orchestra's timpanist.
When not on the podium, Chafetz makes his home near San Francisco with wife Ann Krinitsky.
Chafetz holds a bachelor's degree in music performance from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and a master's degree from the Eastman School of Music.
All concerts in the Nationwide Picnic with the Pops concert series will be held at the Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion in the Columbus Commons (160 S. High St.) directly behind the Ohio Theatre. Gates open at 6pm and will be located on the Rich, Third, and State Street sides of the park.
General admission lawn tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the gate on the day of the show. Lawn tickets for children aged 3-12 are $10. Children 2 and under are free. Advance tickets can be purchased by phone at 614.469.0939, online at www.PicnicWithThePops.com or www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the CAPA Ticket Center (39 E. State St.).
Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and/or chairs for lawn seating.
Tables of 8 or 10 are available for purchase, ranging from $336-$830 per table. Catering for the table is available at the discretion of the purchaser. For more information or to purchase a table, call 614.469.0939.
Single table seats are also available and can be purchased in any quantity. Prices range from $45-$85 per seat, and catering is not available. Single table seats can be purchased by phone at 614.469.0939, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the CAPA Ticket Center.
A group discount is available for parties of 15 or more. Call 614.469.0939 (ext. 2) for more information.
Will Call tickets can be picked up at the gate on the Rich Street side of the park.
Parking is available at the Columbus Commons Main Parking Garage, located at 55 East Rich Street, just steps away from the park. Spaces are also available at the Columbus Commons' underground garage at 191 South Third Street. Parking is $5.
Patrons may bring their own food and beverages or purchase from on-site vendors. Patrons are also permitted to bring their own beer and/or wine on-site. Coolers are permitted, but must be less than 2.5 feet in height.
Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for lawn seating but no tables. Pets, skateboards, solicitation or unauthorized sales, handbills, weapons, plastic tarps, tents, and use of stakes are not permitted. Smoking is permitted in designated areas only. Flash cameras, cell phones, laser pointers, and/or video or audio recorders of any kind are not permitted during the performance.
Port-o-lets will be located in the southeast corner of the park at the corner of Third and Rich Streets.
All concerts are rain or shine, and may start late if necessitated by inclement weather. Concerts will only be cancelled because of severe weather, and the decision will be made after 6pm on the day of the performance. Patrons can call 614.469.0939 (ext. 6) after 6pm on the day of the show for updates. If a concert is cancelled due to severe weather, tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase.
COTA buses will run their regularly scheduled routes to and from downtown. Patrons can get information on bus schedules and stops at www.cota.com.
Bicycles can be locked up at bike racks throughout the park.
Medical personnel will be on-site for first aid needs. Columbus Police and other security staff will be on-site monitoring park activity.
Outside the park, Capital Crossroads' uniformed ambassadors can provide directions, information about downtown, and/or car escort services. For more information on Capital Crossroads services, please call 614.228.5718.
All gates are handicap accessible. Accessible restrooms and seating will be located in the northeast corner of the lawn seating area on the Third Street side of the park.
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