Dear Columbus Symphony Supporter,
Thank you for joining us for the 2024 Nationwide Picnic with the Pops and Popcorn Pops season. We are thrilled to see you all in the beautiful Columbus Commons for a summer of incredible concerts!
The Nationwide Picnic with the Pops season opens with Generation Radio (June 15), starring Jason Scheff (Chicago) and Columbus native Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flatts), playing their hit songs along with classics from Journey, Tom Petty, and more. The platinum-selling Violent Femmes join the Symphony on June 22 to celebrate their groundbreaking sound and cult classic hits. On June 29, we will celebrate one of the greats of American music with Patriotic Pops – A Gershwin Celebration, including a special performance of Rhapsody in Blue, which marks its 100th anniversary in 2024. Windborne: The Music of Led Zeppelin (July 6) will rock the Commons with a massive array of songs from this legendary band. Nas with the Columbus Symphony (July 13) teams one of New York City’s leading rap/hip-hop voices with your hometown orchestra for a symphonic rendition of Illmatic, one of the most revered albums in hip-hop history. On July 20, Grammy Award nominee and American Idol finalist Cody Fry brings his singer-songwriter talents and genre-bending music to Columbus. Finally, TBDBITL joins the Symphony for the first big tailgate of the year at two concerts with The Ohio State University Marching Band on July 26 and 27.
Nationwide Popcorn Pops returns with two special family concerts led by Associate Conductor Andrés Lopera: Celebrate Summer! (June 21) and Carnival! (July 12). Children will enjoy free popcorn and pre-concert activities. Stay around after the concerts for free screenings of family films, sponsored by the Columbus Commons.
Please join the Columbus Symphony at additional events all summer long, including Summer Night Music Concerts at venues throughout central Ohio and free outdoor Community Concerts in Columbus parks. We are also looking forward to the 2024-25 Masterworks Series, which will open September 20 and 22 with a celebration of John Williams’ extensive, award-winning music catalog that includes some of the most popular, recognizable, and critically acclaimed film scores in history. We have an exciting season planned – subscriptions are currently on sale, and you won’t want to miss a single concert!
Everything we do is made possible through the exceptional support of our community. On behalf of the entire Columbus Symphony family, thank YOU for being here for the Columbus Symphony.
Please enjoy tonight’s performance!
Stuart Chafetz
Principal Pops Conductor