The Santa Clarita Philharmonic “pops” concert is back, and will feature a special performance of Emeralde, a singer songwriter duo team, on Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 3 p.m. at the Hart High Auditorium.

This year’s “pops” concert of the Santa Clarita Philharmonic is a “not to be missed” event. The orchestra is now midway through it’s fourth season continuing to entertain the community with quality orchestral music at every performance. In the upcoming concert expect to hear selections performed from the Broadway show “Oklahoma,” music from the film “Superman Returns,” a string orchestra version of the Benny Goodman favorite “Sing, Sing, Sing.” Also on the program is a medley of George Gershwin songs and the music from the TV series “Victory at Sea.”

Jeffrey Gilbert, who has been with the orchestra since it’s inception, will once again lead the musicians serving as music director. The second half of the concert will feature Emeralde, the adult contemporary pop duo of Mark Gasbarro and Margie Russomanno performing with the orchestra. “This concert is especially ambitious and exciting”, says Dr Mark Elfont, President of the Santa Clarita Philharmonic, “This will be the the first time our orchestra has collaborated with a full band and performing with Emeralde was our top choice. During our first rehearsal together we knew right away it was going to be musical magic!”

The special performance of Emeralde is headed by an exciting singer songwriting duo team. Mark, composer/arranger, producer and conductor, is one of the most popular film score pianists in the entertainment industry. His piano playing and orchestrations have been featured on a long list of Hollywood blockbusters films including the critically acclaimed epic adventure, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He can be heard on the beautifully touching featured piano solo in Pixar’s hit film Up which won the Academy Award® for Best Score, Inside Out, Winner of Golden Globes and an Academy Award® for Best Animated Motion Picture, Zootopia, Jurassic World, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Cars 2, Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol, all the episodes of ABC-TV’s huge hit series Lost, and many others.

Margie, a radiant pop singer and brilliant songwriter, delivers the duos’ vocals with a voice as “lush as velvet.” Margie has written music for television and feature films and her works have garnered over half a million YouTube views. Her most recent solo CD release, “All I Need,” spent three years in the top 5 on ReverbNation’s LA Christian Gospel Charts, much of that time in the #1 position.

Great raffle prizes will be on hand during the concert. Be sure to mark your calendars for the orchestra’s final concert of the season on May 21, 2017 when the winner of our third annual Student Concerto Competition will perform.