Ocean City, NJ - The Ocean City Pops Orchestra, William Scheible, Artistic Director, presents tenors John Viscardi, Taylor Staynton, and Cody Austin on Sunday, August 22nd at 8 pm. The concert takes place at the POPS' historic performance venue, The Music Pier, located at Moorlyn Terrace and the Boardwalk. 

 

     Taylor Stayton,

a native of Sidney, Ohio, is a third-year resident artist at The Academy of Vocal Arts, where he studies with renowned voice teacher Bill Schuman. In January 2010, he made his professional operatic debut at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma as Fenton in a new Franco Zeffirelli production of Falstaff. Later this season, he will make his American operatic debut as Osiride in Rossini's Mosé in Egitto with Chicago Opera Theater under Leonardo Vordoni.  Mr. Stayton earned his Bachelor of Music at Ohio State University. While in the Martina Arroyo Foundation's "Prelude to Performance" program, he performed the roles of Ernesto in Don Pasquale and Ferrando in Così fan tutte. The New York Times commented that Mr. Stayton "exudes good health and promise" and the New York Daily News, after noting that he "did an astonishing job with the elegant 'Un aura amorosa'" went on to say: "For such a young tenor to be so accomplished the nuances of Mozart is astonishing." His other operatic roles include Nerone in L'incoronazione di Poppea and Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore.

     American tenor Cody Austin has quickly become one of the most promising artists of his age.  As a former resident artist of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, Mr. Austin has had the opportunity to perform the role of Kudrjas in Kat'a Kabanova as well as Gastone La Traviata and was involved with their production of Anna Bolena while pursuing other professional concert engagements.  Also in Philadelphia he has performed the role of Tassilo in Countess Mariza with the Concert Operetta Theater.  Mr. Austin was awarded 2nd place in the Dallas Opera Guild Young Artist Competition in 2006, the Ralph Appelman Award for Vocal Promise in 2006, the Mario Lanza Institute Scholarship competition in 2007, the Alfonso Cavaliere Memorial Scholarship in 2008, and the Arthur E. Walters Memorial award in the 2008.

 

 

Taylor Stayton  

Ocean City, NJ - The Ocean City Pops Orchestra, William Scheible, Artistic Director, presents the most exceptional Cirque veterans from throughout the world  on Tuesday, August 24th at 8 pm.  Be sure to see aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, and balancers, all performing to exciting music by the POPS.

    

     Location: The Music Pier, located at Moorlyn Terrace and the Boardwalk.    

 

     Tickets are available for $25 / $20.    

 

     Order your tickets online at http://ocnj.tix.com/ or call the Music Pier Box Office at 609-525-9248.

 

     Alexander Streltsov is a Russian aerial artist who started working with future Cirque du Soleil choreographer Pavel Brun and famed producer Valentin Gneushev when he was only twelve, performing on Broadway at the Gershwin Theater. The same year he won the gold medal in the competition among international cirque artists at the prestigious Festival Mondial Du Cirque De L'Avenir in Paris. His combination of natural strength, artistic expression, and grace sets his performance apart from other aerialists. Also known as "Sasha," he has performed for three Russian presidents and the Bolshoi Ballet, numerous symphonies in the US and Europe, and elaborate theater and stage productions worldwide. He has made many television appearances, such as the star-studded ABC-TV special "Christopher Reeve- A Celebration of Hope" and the PBS nationwide broadcast of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's Fourth of July Celebration. He continues be a favorite at music halls, where he soars out over the audience in a spectacular display of aerial artistry or performs his riveting spinning cube act.   

 

     Vladimir Tsarkov provides a spell-binding performance with combinations of mime and juggling feats. A favorite of the younger members of the audiences, Vladimir's Red Harlequin act features rings, balls, and batons, and he's even been known to teach the maestro a trick or two! He is a veteran of Circus Circus, Cirque Ingenieux, and various Cirque de la Symphonie performances. Vladimir graduated from Russia's prestigious State College of Circus and Theater Arts and won the gold medal at the Cirque de Demain International Festival in France. His performance with the symphony is pure entertainment and guaranteed to please audiences of all ages.   

 

     Christine Van Loo is a 7-time consecutive National Champion, Female Olympic Athlete of the Year, and Athlete of the Decade in acrobatic gymnastics. She was inducted into the USSA (acro-gymnastics) Hall of Fame and the World Acrobatics Society Gallery of Honor. As a professional aerialist and acrobat she has performed in the 2002 Winter Olympics, at two Grammy Awards (with No Doubt and with Ricky Martin), at the American Music Awards (with Aerosmith), the Miss Universe pageant, and Paul McCartney's European tour. She choreographed the aerials for Britney Spears World Tour and the Stars on Ice US tour. Christine provides spell-binding performances of static silks, aerial hoop, and duo trapeze with Cirque de la Symphonie.    

 

     Elena Tsarkova, the "Lady in White," is a graduate of the famed Moscow Circus School and first-place winner of the prestigious National Russian Circus Festival.  From her "Master of Sports" in gymnastics, Elena developed into a unique and graceful performer with the Big Apple Circus, Switzerland's Circus Knie, and Germany's Circus Roncalli. Her combination of contortion, balance, and graceful dance moves has made her a major star with Cirque de la Mur in Florida and Circus Circus in Las Vegas. Elena's experience with many major stage and theater productions offers a professional background that allows for a truly unforgettable performance with the live symphony. The "Lady in White" provides an elegant touch to Cirque de la Symphonie.

 

Featured are songs from The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and the Great American Songbook.

Ashley Brown

 

Sponsored by Primo Pizza

Back by popular demand.  A night of New Orleans style swing and jazz tunes.   

 

 

Order your tickets now by calling the box office at 609-525-9248 or online at http://ocnj.tix.com/  

 

 Sponsored by the Friends of the Ocean City POPS

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