User:Tjdrum/Panama City POPS Orchestra

The Panama City POPS Orchestra is a Not-For-Profit Organization based in Panama City, Florida. The organization is committed to providing excellent classical and popular music which delights, educates and inspires the cultural life of their communities within a sustainable financial structure. The pops orchestra typically performs music from the following genres: popular, cinematic music, jazz, show tunes as well as well-known and new classical works. The orchestra was founded in 1996 and performs most of its concerts at the Marina Civic Center and the Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater. Past performances have also been held at the Gulf Coast Community College and Arnold High School auditoriums.

History
The Panama City POPS Orchestra (formerly the Orchestra of St. Andrew Bay) began in 1996 as a small group of string players seeking opportunities to play and perform together. It was founded by Elaine Matson, Michael Reisman, and Sandy Rosengren. Led by Dr. John Boozer, this ensemble soon grew into a complete orchestra, playing a wide variety of symphonic music and training talented musicians guided by experienced adults.

At the end of the 1999-2000 season, Dr. Boozer left for a position in North Carolina, and the baton passed to Rusty Garner of Gulf Coast Community College, Division of Visual and Performing Arts. During his tenure the orchestra formed a close cooperative relationship with the college and presented Bay County audiences a series of ambitious and entertaining programs. Mr. Garner retired at the end of the 2005-2006 season.

The baton was then passed to Mr. Eddie Rackley, an accomplished, creative and enthusiastic replacement. Maestro Rackley brings a lifetime of musical education and experience to the POPS podium, with undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Miami and singing engagements with the Jackie Gleason Television Show, as well as engagements with Bing Crosby, Milton Berle, Victor Borge, Maureen O'Hara, Burt Parks, and several other notable entertainers.

Performance Highlights
The Panama City POPS Orchestra has had to the privilege to preimeire several new orchestral works including "New Hope", written by David Goldflies (Allman Brothers Band and Panama City POPS member) and "Florida: Land of Sun and Sea" written by Emmy-award winning composer Gary Fry for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the State of Florida.