News release Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu summer 05 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 10/25/05   PICNIC ‘N POPS CELEBRATES FANFARE’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH MUSIC “UNDER THE BIG TOP”        HAMMOND – Picnic ‘n Pops has provided a musical grand finale for Fanfare since the early days of Southeastern Louisiana University’s annual October arts festival. Sponsored by the Hammond Rotary Club, the 2005 version of the popular event will feature the Southeastern Wind Symphony – and friends – in a fast-paced program with a circus theme.        Christened “Under the Big Top,” Picnic ‘n Pops 2005 is scheduled for 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Southeastern University Center.        “Friends,” said Wind Symphony Director Glen Hemberger, encompasses his colleagues and student musicians in the Department of Music and Dramatic Arts; and the “Big Top” is the UC, home to Picnic ‘n Pops since the event’s inception in 1989.        At Fanfare’s first musical picnic, the New Orleans Symphony performed selections from the musical “Damn Yankees” with the New York Yankees’ Billy Martin narrating Aaron Copland’s “Billy the Kid.” Since then, Picnic ‘n Pops entertainers have also included the Baton Rouge Symphony, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sentimental Serenaders, and Swing Set. And the event’s format has proved to be as popular as its entertainment.        Picnic ‘n Pops patrons bring their own picnic dinners – which range from gourmet fare on fine china to pizza on paper plates – and mingle among the tables on the UC arena floor until the evening’s musical entertainment begins.         Reservations for $150 eight-seat floor tables are available through the Hammond Rotary Club, 985-345-2850. General admission arena tickets, $5, can be purchased at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts box office, 220 East Thomas St., 985-543-4371, and at the door.        Hemberger said in keeping with Picnic ‘n Pops’ circus theme, Hammond community leader Guy Recotta Jr. will serve as “ringmaster,” and arena and floor patrons can enjoy big top-style fun such as clowns, balloon animals, face painting and free popcorn.         The Wind Symphony will anchor the musical program with performances of “Einlitung” from Strauss’ “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” Jean Sibelius’ “Finlandia,” Charles Ives’ “Variations on ‘America,’ and Henry Fillmore’s “The Circus Bee.”        Hemberger has also tapped the talents of Southeastern faculty such as Richard Schwartz, saxophone, and Kenneth Bolton, piano, who will perform Rimsky-Korsakoff’s “The Flight of the Bumblebee” and William Bolcom’s “Little Suite of Dances.” Bolton and his wife and fellow pianist JoAnne Barry will be featured in Johannes Brahm’s “Two Hungarian Dances”; and Andrew Seigel, clarinet, will play Phillip Spark’s “Concerto for Clarinet.”         The Southeastern Faculty Brass Quintet will contribute two numbers, Bachs Fugue in G Minor and  Just A Closer Walk with Thee. The Trumpet Ensemble will perform Fired Up! by David A. Roth and the Guitar Ensemble will play two movements from George Bizets Carmen Suite, arranged by Southeastern faculty member Patrick Kerber.        In addition to a variety of other faculty and student ensembles and soloists, special treats will include the debut of the Southeastern Ragtime Ensemble performing two Scott Joplin rags and – as a preview of another upcoming Fanfare event – the “von Trapp children” from the Opera-Music Theatre Program’s Nov. 1-5 production of “The Sound of Music,” who will sing “Do-Re-Mi” and “So Long, Farewell” accompanied by Charles Effler, piano.        Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. with the concert beginning at 6 p.m. For additional information, call the Columbia Theatre office, 985-543-4366.