Contact:  Meg Whalen, Director of Public Relations
E: megw@charlottesymphony.org
P: 704-714-5114
W: www.charlottesymphony.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                          
April 27, 2011

Charlotte Symphony Announces 2011 Summer Pops Season
Symphony to charge admission for concerts at Symphony Park, SouthPark

The Charlotte Symphony (CSO) announces today its 2011 Summer Pops season. Outdoor concerts at Symphony Park, SouthPark will begin on Sunday, June 12 with Charlotte Symphony Music Director Christopher Warren-Green conducting his first Summer Pops concert. The concerts continue on Saturday, June 18, with CSO Assistant Conductor Jacomo Bairos conducting, and Sundays, June 19 and 26 and July 3 with Albert-George Schram returning to Summer Pops for his eleventh season. All concerts begin at 8:15 p.m. with prelude performances at 7:00 p.m.

Beginning this season, the CSO will charge a nominal admission for its concerts at Symphony Park. Tickets are $10 for adults, and free for children 18 and under. A Summer Pops/Symphony Park pass good for admission to all five Symphony Park concerts will be available for $25. The CSO will no longer solicit free-will donations from the audience.

The decision to charge admission to the Symphony Park concerts is part of the CSO’s broader initiatives to strengthen its financial operations. The costs of presenting a month of outdoor concerts exceed $500,000. Sponsorships and free-will donations have historically off-set only about 20% of those costs.

“We have made much progress in our efforts to build financial stability in the institution; however, it is clear that we cannot continue to provide a month of concerts at the level of financial loss that we sustain each June,” said Jonathan Martin, Executive Director of the Charlotte Symphony. “As we work to improve our business practices across our operations, we must also act in a fiscally responsible way in our summer business. We must be good stewards of this precious community resource – our orchestra – so that we can serve the Charlotte area for generations to come.”

The orchestra has presented a Summer Pops series since 1983. The concerts moved to SouthPark in 1994 and specifically to Symphony Park upon its completion in 2002.

“The Summer Pops concerts at SouthPark are a beloved Charlotte tradition,” said Martin. “We are confident that our patrons will support this new direction and continue to join us at Symphony Park to enjoy picnics, fellowship, and great orchestral music.”

The CSO will continue to perform regional Summer Pops concerts in Matthews, Cornelius, Lake Norman, Pineville, and Kannapolis. The orchestra receives a fee for those concerts, which are presented free to the community by the host communities. A full listing of CSO Summer Pops concerts is below.

The 2011 Summer Pops season is made possible in part by the generous support of SouthPark Mall, and its owner Simon Properties, and the DoubleTree Guest Suites.

A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found below. For tickets, please call 704-972-2000 or visit the CSO website at www.charlottesymphony.org.

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The Charlotte Symphony 2011 Summer Pops Season

Symphony Park at SouthPark
Gates open at 4 p.m.
All concerts begin at 8:15; preludes at 7 p.m.
Admission: $10 for adults; children 18 and under are free;
                    Season pass is $25 for all five concerts

Sunday, June 12 – Christopher Warren-Green, conducting
Saturday, June 18 – Jacomo Bairos, conducting
Sunday, June 19 – Albert-George Schram, conducting
Sunday, June 26 – Albert-George Schram, conducting
Sunday, July 3 – Albert-George Schram, conducting

Other Summer Pops Concerts:
All concerts begin at 8:15 p.m.

Friday, June 10 at Stumptown Park, Matthews – Jacomo Bairos, conducting
Saturday, June 11 at Bailey Park, Cornelius – Jacomo Bairos, conducting
Friday, June 17 at EnergyExplorium, Lake Norman – Albert-George Schram, conducting
Friday, July 1 at Belle Johnston Park, Pineville - Albert-George Schram, conducting

Saturday, July 2 at Village Park, Kannapolis - Albert-George Schram, conducting

Q. What time do the gates at Symphony Park open, and when will I be able to gain entry into the park?
A. Symphony Park will open at 4 p.m. on days that the Charlotte Symphony is performing.

Q. Will volunteers still be asking me to donate to the Symphony if I’ve already paid?
A. No. We will discontinue that practice.

Q. What is the policy regarding inclement weather and ticket refunds?
A. If the weather is severe, and the concert is cancelled due to the inclement weather, guests holding a ticket will be issued a “rain check” for $10 toward a future Symphony concert. If the Symphony is able to perform half the program, “rain checks” will not be issued.

Q. Will I be able to reserve a seat or place a blanket in the park earlier in the day?
A. Guests may enter Symphony Park and select an available location on the lawn at 4 p.m. on the day of the concert.

Q. Can I still bring food and beverage into the park?
A. Yes.  Food and beverage are permitted at the concerts.

Q. Are pets permitted in the park?
A. No.  For the safety and comfort of others, pets are not permitted at the concerts.

Q. Is smoking permitted in the park?
A. Smoking is permitted outside of the fence surrounding the park.