POPS on the Parkway for Wawa Welcome America

Michael Krajewski, Conductor

Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Benjamin Franklin Pkwy

Philadelphia, PA 19130

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Jul 4, 2016

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Mon, Jul 4, 2016

8:30pm

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Free Admission

Featuring

Allison Blackwell, vocalist

Justin Hopkins, vocalist

The Philly POPS is proud to perform in this free, patriotic celebration of America’s birthday as a part of Wawa Welcome America!, the nation’s largest, free 4th of July festival.

A Philly POPS Salute Series performance honoring our nation's traditions, values, and commitment to service.

Your sponsorship or donation will help to offset the cost of hosting the veterans, military and first responders at Salute Series events throughout the year.

Immediately prior to the city’s Grand Finale Fireworks show on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the full 65-piece Philly POPS orchestra will take the stage with guest artists Allison Blackwell and Justin Hopkins. The show will begin with a tribute overture to Philadelphia’s own Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff before moving into a program of pop hits, patriotic songs, Broadway favorites and more from the Great American Songbook.

Blackwell most recently performed in the Lion King on Broadway and brought down the house during the POPS’ Carole King concert. Hopkins is also a Philadelphia native who began singing at the age of 8 with the Philadelphia Boys Choir, appearing with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Opera Philadelphia as a boy chorister. Today, his schedule is packed with POPS and operatic performances both nationally and internationally.

The POPS returns to the Parkway, an enthusiastic participant in this week-long celebration of the Sounds of Philadelphia.

The Philly POPS Salute Series encourages recognition of service and commitment through an expanding set of events and activities—each transformative moments of celebration for our community. The Salute performances recognize the service and sacrifice of those dedicated to a collective identity of American values and tradition.

Your sponsorship or donation will help to offset the cost of hosting the veterans, military and first responders at Salute Series events throughout the year. Learn more about how you can support this event and all Salute Series events.

Guest Artists

Allison Blackwell, vocalist

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Allison is thrilled to be back singing in her hometown. Raised in the suburbs of Wyndmoor, outside Philadelphia, she attended Springfield Township High School in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. A versatile range from opera to gospel, she was last seen with the Philly POPS this past winter in The Carole King Songbook with Liz Callaway and Bryce Ryness. She made her Broadway debut in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess starring six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis and David Alan Grier. For her second Broadway show, as Aretha Franklin in A Night with Janis Joplin, USA TODAY wrote: “Allison Blackwell, who veers from a stunning operatic reading of Summertime to a shivery, booming impersonation of Aretha Franklin.” She recently finished a successful run in The Lion King on Broadway. Allison has performed across the nation with various symphonies and has been seen in two Live from Lincoln Center productions: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street starring Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson (2015 Emmy Award Outstanding Special Class Program) and Show Boat starring Vanessa Williams. Proud graduate of Spelman College (B.A) and The Boston Conservatory (M.M).

Justin Hopkins

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A native of Mount Airy, Philadelphia and graduate of St. Joseph’s Prep High School, Justin Hopkins is a young performer in increasing demand nationally and internationally. Known for his warm and rich bass voice, as well as his magnetic stage presence, he has been featured in theaters such as Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall (London), and Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie (Brussels).

In 2016, Hopkins appeared at Lincoln Center in A Coffin In Egypt starring Frederica von Stade; Carnegie Hall performing Repast, a solo opera-oratorio based on the life of civil rights figure Booker Wright; Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops performing The Golden Age of Broadway; the Apollo Theater for the Opera Philadelphia workshop of We Shall Not Be Moved; Opera Delaware for the East Coast premiere of Franco Faccio’s Amleto. In the 2016-17 season Mr. Hopkins will be appearing in Brussels, Belgium at Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Verdi’s Macbeth; Los Angeles with the LA Chamber Orchestra in Lost In The Stars and Beethoven Symphony No.9; Dayton, Ohio with the Dayton Philharmonic for the Mozart Requiem; and as the featured guest soloist on the Boston Pops Florida and mid-west concert tours.

A versatile artist, Mr. Hopkins has performed operatic roles ranging from Mozart to Philip Glass, as well as concert repertoire including Britten’s War Requiem and Mendelssohn's Elijah. He has performed under the distinguished batons of conductors such as Keith Lockhart, Charles Dutoit, and Valery Gergiev with orchestras including the BBC Concert Orchestra, Boston Pops, Verbier Festival Orchestra, and American Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Hopkins has performed for numerous dignitaries and heads of state, most notably a command solo performance for The Dalai Lama in 2009. He was a member of the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Men’s Chorale from 1993 - 2002.