Peter Oprisko.

Bettine Clemen.

Claude Eric.

Ron Baker.

Jacklyn Buckingham.

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COURT HOUSE - The Middle Township Performing Arts Center announced this week that individual tickets for Linda Gentille & The Jersey Shore Pops’ “2012 Summer Saturday Night Concert Series“ will go on sale Feb. 6, 2012. The orchestra has expanded the concert series this year to include concerts at two different locations next year. 5 of the 8 concert series will be at their home theater, The Middle Township Performing Arts Center, located in Cape May Court House. The three other concerts which will include a larger bid band orchestra will be held at their new location, The Paul W. Schmidtchen Theater located at Lower Cape Regional High School in Lower Township.

This will be the third year for the Jersey Shore Pops to present their summer concert series and will open at the Middle Township Performing Arts Center on Sat., June 30 with “The Music and Life of Frank Sinatra” starring Singing Sensation Peter Oprisko. The other 7 shows, (all on Saturday nights). in the series are: “Hooked on Country” starring Dixie clarinetist Paul Butler on July 7 at the Paul Schmidtchen Theater: “Gershwin is Grand” starring conductor and pianist Linda Gentille on July 14 at the PAC: “The Life & Times of Glenn Miller” on July 21 at the Paul Schmidtchen Theater :“I Love Paris” starring Canadian Singing Star Claude Eric on July 28 at the PS Theater: “Hooked on Classics” starring international Flautist Bettine Clemen on August 18 at the PAC: “Broadway SHowstoppers” starring Ron Baker on Sept. 1 at the PAC. The final concert in the series is “ Joy to the World” starring Broadway Soprano and pops favorite Jacklyn Buckingham. This final concert will be held on Sat., Nov. 17, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the Middle Township PAC. The pops’ holiday concert has become a tradition at the shore and will be included in all their future series plans.

Individual tickets as well as season tickets will be on sale starting Feb. 6, 2012. The “Platinum Season Pass”: includes all 8 shows at both theaters and is $175 which includes the opening night reception on June 30. The “Gold Season Pass” is for the 5 shows held at the Middle Township Performing Arts Center and is $125. The “Silver Season Pass” includes 3 shows at The Paul Schmidchen Theater in Lower Township and is $75. These are advance discounted season ticket prices and in December, the prime orchestra seats are $35 and $40 each.

In August of 2011, The Jersey Shore Pops appointed the position of concert mistress to Susan Elsayed, former concert mistress for the Ocean City Pops. She and her daughter Amina are featured guest duet artists with the Pops all season.

Recently added to the roster was special guest Broadway vocalist Jacklyn Buckingham. Some of the other talented Jersey Shore Pop’s orchestra members include Clifford Buggs, (Trumpet), renowned trumpet soloist and former leader of the Coast Guard Band in Cape May, John Drechen, Band Director at Lower Cape May Regional High School (Trumpet), Andy Laslasis (Bass), Ray Deeley (Percussion) Angela Guido, Ted Blohm and Jim Tangney (Trombone), Paul Butler, Cindy Yenloevich, Christopher Kobik and Walter Palmer on Saxaphone, Clarinet and Flute. The newly added string section includes: Susanne Di Vincenzo, Jennifer Rha, Sandy Miller, Susan Elsayed, Amina Elsayed, Mary Jo Zahradnik, John Lee, Sid Polivnilk and Edward Lin. The Pops has a long standing collaboration with the Atlantic Youth String Orchestra which is reflected in the musician roster.

The Jersey Shore Pops is a big band orchestra with string section, modeled after the orchestras of the Lawrence Welk era which featured a string section and many guest vocalists. The orchestra was founded by entertainer and conductor Linda Gentille in 2009. The orchestra features 26 of the finest New Jersey musicians either born or based in New Jersey. Kay Aspell, . Director of the arts center states,” We were so excited to welcome the Jersey Shore Pops to the PAC for their third season. This has been the most successful and exciting concert series to ever come to the PAC. The public reaction to Gentille and the orchestra has been phenomenal. We expect the 2012 concert series to sell out before the first concert in June.”

According to Dr. Nick Holland, president of the Jersey Shore Pops,” What makes this orchestra different is that each show is not a typical pops concert, but a show with spectacular entertainment value led by Gentille and her humor and charisma. People have said she is better than Peter Nero and the shows are much more entertaining. We also present a multi-media concert with several cameras to show the fantastic piano work of Gentille and other members of the orchestra. These concerts are already the talk of the town and everyone is excited to see this orchestra blossom.”

Part of this series is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The funds were administered by the Cape May County Culture and Heritage Commission, under the authority of the County Library Commission, for the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

To purchase individual tickets or season tickets please call the JSP Ticket Office at 800-838-3006. For walk in ticket purchases for the shows at Middle Township PAC, please visit the box office. The box office is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. for the and is located at the Middle Township High School , Exit 10 (GSP).