Classical/Pops Festival

The ‘’‘Classical/Pops Festival’’’ (also known as ‘’‘Classical Pops Barbados’’’) was a music festival held in Barbados in December 2014, 2015, and 2016. The festival combined performances by a large all-star orchestra with classical music, popular music, jazz, opera, Broadway music, film scores, and other crossover genres. Its principal venue was the Apes Hill Club in St. James, with additional performances and community events held elsewhere on the island."Barbados Set to Host 'Classical Pops Festival'". TravelPress. 17 November 2014."Classical Pops Barbados". Visit Barbados. 9 December 2016.

The festival was conceived as a winter outdoor alternative to traditional symphony-hall concerts and drew inspiration from festivals and outdoor concert series including Tanglewood, BBC Proms, Wolf Trap, and outdoor performances by the New York Philharmonic. Its organizers described Barbados as a winter home for the festival, combining orchestral performances with the island’s tourism and outdoor setting."Classical Pops Festival". Barbados Villa Services. 2016.

History

2014: Inaugural festival

The inaugural Classical/Pops Festival was held in December 2014. Contemporary promotional material described a program extending from December 11 to 14, with free community events preceding the principal ticketed concerts and a patrons’ brunch following the festival. The main performances took place at the Apes Hill Club in St. James."Barbados Set to Host 'Classical Pops Festival'". TravelPress. 17 November 2014.

The inaugural festival featured an approximately 65-member orchestra assembled from musicians associated with major North American symphony orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic. The orchestra also included musicians connected with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Symphony Orchestra."Classical Pops hits the mark". Barbados Today. 13 December 2014."ASYO Alumni Set for 'All-Star' Orchestra This Weekend". BroadwayWorld. 12 December 2014.

Thomas Wilkins conducted the festival orchestra. Wilkins was then Principal Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and Music Director of the Omaha Symphony, while also holding the Germeshausen Family and Youth Concert Conductor position with the Boston Symphony Orchestra."What is the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra?". Cheapo Ticketing.

The orchestra’s concertmaster was Jonathan Crow, concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Other prominent musicians included Ann Hobson Pilot, principal harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, as well as Owen Young and Terrance Patterson."TSO's Jonathan Crow is Heading to The Classical Pops Festival in Barbados". Classical 102.9 FM. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)

The opening program combined orchestral music with jazz and popular music. The festival opened with Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, with Barbadian singer Alison Hinds as a special guest. The orchestra subsequently presented a program of film music featuring works associated with composers including John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Henry Mancini, Jerry Goldsmith and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, with violinist Tai Murray appearing as a soloist."Alison Hinds, Irvin Mayfield & Lil Buck perform at Classical Pops". Travel About. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)

The second day included a performance by the Piazzolla Trio with dancer Lil Buck, followed by a “Holiday Pops!” program featuring soprano Alison Buchanan, the St. Leonard’s Boy’s Choir and the Gospelfest Choir. The festival’s combination of orchestral music, dance, jazz, opera, popular music and film music became a defining feature of its programming."Alison Hinds, Irvin Mayfield & Lil Buck perform at Classical Pops". Travel About. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)

The inaugural festival attracted a large audience at Apes Hill despite intermittent rain. Contemporary coverage reported that spectators remained for the performances during the showers, while Barbadian Tourism Minister Richard Sealy praised the quality of the event."Classical Pops hits the mark". Barbados Today. 13 December 2014.

2015

The second festival was held on December 11 and 12, 2015, again at the Apes Hill Club. Festival organizers promoted the event as a destination festival intended to attract both Barbadian audiences and international visitors."Classical/Pops Festival Barbados". Little Good Harbour Barbados. 30 September 2015.

The 2015 program again included a “Film Night”, following the popularity of the previous year’s film-music program. The orchestra performed film scores accompanied by film montages displayed on a large screen. The second evening was titled “Superstars of Broadway” and featured Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis with the orchestra."Classical/Pops Festival Barbados". Little Good Harbour Barbados. 30 September 2015.

The festival orchestra continued to bring together musicians from major orchestras. Trumpeter Larry Larson, Principal Trumpet of the Kitchener–Waterloo Symphony, later described participating in the festival’s orchestra and noted that its program included works by John Williams, Max Steiner, Leonard Bernstein, Alex North, Henry Mancini, John Barry and Richard Strauss."The Commercial Side of Symphonic Playing". GR Technologies. 4 January 2016.

Festival organizers stated that they wanted Barbados to become an internationally recognized destination for the Classical/Pops experience, comparing their ambitions with the way other destinations had become associated with major cultural events."Classical Pops Launched!" (PDF). The Barbados Advocate. 13 November 2015. p. 7.

2016

The third Classical/Pops Festival took place on December 9 and 10, 2016, at the Apes Hill Club in St. James. Contemporary advertising explicitly described it as the “3rd Annual Classical/Pops Festival”."Classical Pops Barbados advertisement" (PDF). The Barbados Advocate. 2 December 2016. p. 21.

The 2016 festival again featured a 65-piece all-star orchestra conducted by Thomas Wilkins. The advertised program included “Opera Night: From Carmen to Claus”, featuring Italian tenor Fabio Armiliato, and “Superstars on Broadway”, featuring Heather Headley and tenor David Miller, a member of the vocal group Il Divo."Classical Pops Barbados advertisement" (PDF). The Barbados Advocate. 2 December 2016. p. 21.

The festival also incorporated performances outside the principal evening concerts. Pianist Elaine Kwon performed at the 2016 festival, including a program described as “TV Theme Night”, featuring classical and popular music from television past and present. Kwon also participated in a preview performance at the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre in Holetown on December 9."2015–2016 Events". Elaine Kwon.

The festival was promoted by Barbados tourism organizations as part of the island’s December cultural calendar. Visit Barbados described the 2016 event as bringing together prominent American orchestral musicians with pop performers, Broadway performers and opera singers."Classical Pops Barbados". Visit Barbados. 9 December 2016. The National Cultural Foundation of Barbados also listed the event in its 2016 events calendar."Events & Notices". National Cultural Foundation, Barbados. 3 November 2016.

Artistic concept and programming

The Classical/Pops Festival was designed around the idea of presenting high-level orchestral performances in an informal outdoor environment. Its organizers cited experiences at Tanglewood, Wolf Trap, the BBC Proms and outdoor New York Philharmonic concerts as inspirations for creating a Caribbean winter festival."Classical Pops Festival". Barbados Villa Services. 2016.

Rather than limiting its programming to the traditional classical repertoire, the festival emphasized crossover performances. Programs incorporated classical compositions, contemporary works, jazz, opera, Broadway and West End songs, popular music and film scores. Guest artists performed alongside the festival orchestra, while guest ensembles and community groups also appeared."Classical Pops Barbados". Visit Barbados. 9 December 2016.

The festival also emphasized an informal audience experience. General-admission ticket holders were permitted to bring picnic food, while food vendors operated at the venue. VIP packages included preferred seating, a covered lounge, private bar service and other hospitality facilities."Classical Pops Festival". Barbados Villa Services. 2016.

Orchestra

A principal feature of the festival was its temporary all-star orchestra. Rather than functioning as a permanent orchestra, the ensemble brought together principal players, concertmasters and other musicians associated with prominent orchestras in North America and elsewhere.

The 2014 orchestra was reported to contain approximately 65 musicians and included players associated with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra."Classical Pops hits the mark". Barbados Today. 13 December 2014."ASYO Alumni Set for 'All-Star' Orchestra This Weekend". BroadwayWorld. 12 December 2014.

The ensemble’s international composition was also intended to showcase the range of professional orchestral musicians working in North America. Among the musicians associated with the festival were African-American classical musicians including Ann Hobson Pilot, Owen Young and Terrance Patterson."TSO's Jonathan Crow is Heading to The Classical Pops Festival in Barbados". Classical 102.9 FM. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)

The orchestra was conducted by Thomas Wilkins during the festival’s principal years. Its concertmaster in 2014 was Jonathan Crow, who served as concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra."TSO's Jonathan Crow is Heading to The Classical Pops Festival in Barbados". Classical 102.9 FM. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)

Performers

Artists and ensembles associated with the festival included:

End of the festival

The 2016 edition was the third annual Classical/Pops Festival. Although contemporary tourism and event sources extensively documented the 2016 edition, no subsequent editions are documented in the sources presently available. The festival’s website was subsequently no longer maintained as an active festival site. Accordingly, the event is generally documented as having run from 2014 through 2016 rather than as a continuing annual festival."Classical Pops Barbados". Visit Barbados. 9 December 2016."Classical Pops Barbados advertisement" (PDF). The Barbados Advocate. 2 December 2016. p. 21.

References

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