Tehachapi News

Southern Sierra Pops holds Spring Concert

- BY NICK SMIRNOFF

Southern Sierra Pops held its Spring Concert before a nearly full house Saturday evening in Cummings Valley. Their performanc­e venue was Shepherd of the Hills Church, whose fine acoustics made every instrument sound sharp, crisp and easy to hear.

For the Spring Concert, the orchestra was under the baton of Conductor James Reddish, who is also conductor of the Lancaster Community Orchestra and likes his idea of affording both the Tehachapi and Lancaster musicians the opportunit­y to perform in both community orchestras.

Reddish selected and conducted an eclectic variety of musical compositio­ns.

The first half featured

hits such as “You Can’t Stop The Beat” from the Tony

Award-winning play “Hairspray.” “Sweet Caroline” by

Neil Diamond came next, followed by a medley of Elton John songs, which included “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Crocodile Rock” and others.

After a brief intermissi­on, the orchestra performed “Shackelfor­d Banks,” a western-flavored piece inspired by composer Jay Bocook about the wild mustangs that roam freely on Shackelfor­d Island off the coast of North Carolina.

That was followed by “Hallelujah” from Canadian composer Leonard Cohen.

Additional selections included versions of “Despacito,” “Jerusalema” and wrapping up the evening performanc­e with a medley from the movie “The Greatest Showman” arranged by Paul Murtha.

Future performanc­e dates are to be announced soon. Following the orchestra on Facebook.

 ?? PHOTOS BY NICK SMIRNOFF / FOR TEHACHAPI NEWS ?? Conductor James Reddish welcomes the audience to the spring concert.
PHOTOS BY NICK SMIRNOFF / FOR TEHACHAPI NEWS Conductor James Reddish welcomes the audience to the spring concert.
 ?? ?? Southern Sierra Pops performs at Shepherd of the Hills Church Saturday evening.
Southern Sierra Pops performs at Shepherd of the Hills Church Saturday evening.

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