PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release November 19, 2008 CALIFORNIA POPS ORCHESTRA'S "HOLIDAY WITH THE POPS" IN LOS GATOS (PALO ALTO Nov. 19) "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas", "Home Alone" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas" will be some of the playful selections when the California Pops Orchestra stages its freewheeling, festive "Holidays With the Pops" show featuring everybody's favorite Christmas music, past to present, in a one-time matinee performance Sunday, December 14, 3 p.m. at the Venture Christian Church theatre. It is the orchestra's second appearance at the spacious new 1,100 seat venue at 16845 Hicks Road, Los Gatos. The 60-piece orchestra, formerly the Peninsula Pops Orchestra, based in Palo Alto, is conducted by Kim Venaas who is also the show's M.C. The orchestra has played all its family-friendly, interactive shows in Palo Alto for the past 20 years. However this special holiday extravaganza will be presented only in Los Gatos according to Alicia Wilmunder, Executive Director. Featured will be the Christmasy music of Bing Crosby, Mel Torme, Henry Mancini, Leroy Anderson and a special narration of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas with children from the audience gathered onstage. Other toasty classics include Sleigh Ride, Miracle on 34th Street, Holiday Inn and Claude Thornhill's big band theme song, Snowfall. Guests are invited to wear holiday dress. Making their first appearance with the Pops will be the Pacific Coast Smalltimers, known from the International Scott Joplin Festival to the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee for their wonderful ragtime renditions of Scott Joplin, Eubie Blake and Irving Berlin, the Smalltimers bring their jaunty style to some very special Christmas classics. Tickets are $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students with student ID and $10 children, 10 and under with parents. For tickets and in information: www californiapopsorchestra.com or (650) 856-8432. Debonair conductor and MC Kim Venaas has crafted the California Pops as "your kind of music, your kind of orchestra", the country's only all-request symphony orchestra. Composed of musicians from throughout Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, the California Pops has been described as "the Boston Pops Meets Prairie Home Companion" for its relaxed and informal format. Audience-friendly features are hearty sing-alongs, jokes submitted by the audience plus musical requests from the audience. Says Venaas,"I get such a kick out of hearing an audience member's astonishment that the piece she requested in February is on the show in April. No other orchestra does this. We do "shows" not "concerts". California Pops play-lists are from movies old and new, Broadway shows, jazz, Big Band hits of the 1930s and 1940s and the greatest music of what is being called The American Songbook. The orchestra is also building a musical library that includes light classics, jazz, latin, movie, Broadway, TV, cartoon, circus, vaudeville and Big Band music. They have rescued many orchestrations long out-of-print and represent a uniquely American musical heritage that is quickly slipping away. _________ Media contact: Vic Befera (650) 328-3936, Website - www.californiapopsorchestra.com Media Online Press Room: http://www.californiapopsorchestra.com/cpopressroom.html Downloads of Hi-Res photos, press release, fact sheet, calendar listings and more. For additional information and photos you may also contact Alicia Wilmunder, Executive Director at (650) 856-8432 or Email - manager@californiapopsorchestra.com Thank you for your support! Vic Befera Public Relations The California Pops Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) Community Non-Profit Corporation (Fed ID 74-322384). www.californiapopsorchestra.com _ 650.856.8432 The California Pops Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) Community Non-Profit Corporation (Fed ID 74-322384).