PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Distribution

January 11, 2006

   Fort Bend Performing Arts Series Presents

     THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA

The American Pops Orchestra is one of this country's most unique musical ensembles.  It was founded in the 1970's by its conductor and principal arranger, Ned Battista. He patterned the orchestra after the Hollywood film studio orchestras that had begun forty years earlier, and were used to record all of the great film scores for the movie studios. Battista sought to create an orchestra that had the versatility to perform a great variety of American popular music, including ragtime, swing, big band, salsa, jazz, Broadway, and contemporary styles.

Over the years, the orchestra has had many opportunities to perform for both national and international audiences. The American Pops has toured throughout the state of Texas, performed for the grand Texas State Capitol Centennial Celebration in Austin, and played a concert for two thousand dignitaries who were guests at Space Center Houston's spectacular Grand Opening Gala. The orchestra has also played at Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and also performed at the celebration of President Reagan's inauguration. During the 1990's, the American Pops Orchestra made two very successful international tours. In 1993 the orchestra traveled to Japan, where it played a week of sold-out concerts featuring the music of Cole Porter.  In 1995 the Pops was invited to perform at the International Festival of Music held at the renowned Bellas Artes Concert Hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the orchestra presented several concerts of Broadway and Latin American music. Mr. Battista continues to lead the American Pops in new and interesting directions with his brilliant orchestral arrangements and a career dedicated to his orchestra and American popular music.

The February 11^th concert, conducted by conductor/arranger Ned Battista, celebrates the many moods of Valentine's Day.  Featured soloists include University of Houston faculty pianist Catherine Ciscon and jazz vocalist Steve Hale. Ms. Ciscon will play the "Warsaw Concerto" for piano and orchestra, composed by Richard Addinsell for the 1941 film score, "Dangerous Moonlight." Mr. Hale will perform two songs by the late Bobby Darin, "Mack the Knife" and "Lazy River". Other concert highlights will include Barry White's "Love's Theme", and a new medley of Elton John hits. Broadway selections include music from "Evita", "Mamma Mia", "Cabaret", and "Starlight Express."  A special part of the evening's entertainment will be music from the popular film scores of "A Summer Place", "Jaws", and "Titanic".

Fort Bend Performing Arts Series is pleased to present THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA in concert on February 11, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. for a Valentine’s concert. The venue will be the new worship center of Williams Trace Baptist Church located at 16755 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, Texas. Tickets are $25 and all seats are reserved.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.fbpas.org or by calling Suzan Dortch at 281-275-6527.