A Fall Like No Other: The Pops Orchestra’s Season of Shared Stages

By Beth Deyo

The Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota is a community orchestra in every sense.

For years, its work has been shaped by partnerships with local theaters, schools, performers, and arts organizations. Those relationships have created shared performances, rehearsal spaces, educational programs, and new opportunities for audiences to discover more of the area’s arts community.

This fall, many of those collaborations will become part of the season itself.

When Music Meets Movement

When an orchestra performs alongside actors, singers, and dancers, each element brings something different to the production. The musicians create the atmosphere and emotional foundation, while the performers bring the story to life onstage.

“Collaboration is our superpower, and there is no better place than Florida’s Cultural Coast to collaborate with other arts organizations,” said Dr. Robyn Bell, managing and artistic director and conductor of The Pops Orchestra.

Audiences will experience this firsthand during the performance of Hocus Pocus Pops II on October 30 at Riverview Performing Arts Center.

Students from Sarasota Ballet’s Dance – The Next Generation program will perform with The Pops, joined by singers Lyrick Gaddis and Kaylani Roney. Together, they will add a theatrical layer to the concert, giving the music a fuller life onstage.

The evening will continue outside the theater with a trick-or-treat event in the Riverview courtyard. Local businesses and community partners will participate alongside Riverview High School student clubs, turning the concert into a larger school and community event.

The relationship between live music and theater is also at the heart of The Pops’ partnership with Manatee Performing Arts Center.

This summer, the organizations presented It’s the Pits!, a free music camp that placed middle and high school musicians in the pit orchestra for MPAC’s production of Disney’s Newsies Jr. Students worked alongside singers, actors, dancers, and professional musicians while learning what it takes to support a full musical production.

Handbells Help Ring in the Holidays

In December, another longtime partner, Ring Sarasota Handbell Ensemble, will join the orchestra for two performances of Ring in the Holidays.

The groups have performed together before, pairing the bright, resonant sound of Ring Sarasota’s handbells with the depth and range of a full orchestra. “Collaborations with fellow local arts people and organizations further enrich what we do and help define the unique spirit of The Pops,” said Bell.

This year’s concerts will also allow audiences to experience the program in two very different settings, with a performance on December 13 at Riverview Performing Arts Center and one on December 14 at the historic Sarasota Opera House.

A New Setting for The Pops

This year, The Pops’ musicians are stepping outside the traditional concert hall and into Palma Sola Botanical Park for the inaugural Groovin’ in the Gardens on October 18. This unique partnership will introduce audiences to some of The Pops’ smaller ensembles in a beautiful outdoor setting.

“We’re always looking for new ways to bring our musicians out into the community,” said Bell.

The relaxed environment will offer a more informal way to experience the music while also bringing The Pops in front of visitors who may enjoy the gardens but don’t regularly attend orchestral concerts.

Ideas Shared Across the Arts Community

The Pops’ relationships with other arts organizations influence more than where and with whom the orchestra performs. They also help shape what audiences may hear in future seasons.

Bell has developed several concert ideas after attending productions at Florida Studio Theatre. FST’s Great Balls of Fire inspired The Pops’ 2024 show, while last spring’s production of JANIS sparked plans for an upcoming Flower Power concert.

The exchange works in both directions. FST often reaches out to Bell when they are looking for instrumentalists to perform in their shows and the theater even had her guest star as the “stiff” in last fall’s Lucky Stiff production.

The Pops has also worked with Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe since 2016. WBTT performers have joined the orchestra for selections from Porgy and Bess, the 2022 Spirit of America concert, and last season’s A Christmas Carol, the Concert.

That relationship will continue in March, when WBTT performer Jazzmin Carson joins Stephanie Jabre for ’80s Ladies.

Working Together Behind the Scenes

Some of The Pops’ most valuable partnerships have developed through shared spaces, musicians, and resources. Their administrative offices are currently located at Manatee Performing Arts Center, and that connection will grow when the Sara’s Studios expansion is completed. Projected to open in March 2027, the expansion will devote its entire top floor to Pops rehearsals and operations.

The Pops and the Manatee Community Concert Band share musicians, audiences, rehearsal space, and performance venues. They have presented a combined concert and, more recently, pooled funds to purchase 40 new music stands for Neel Performing Arts Center.

And what began as a shared print and online calendar is now opening the door to future guest appearances by the Jazz Club of Sarasota, Sarasota Contemporary Dance, and Via Nova Chorale.

“Everyone’s willingness to work together, present a fabulous and entertaining show for patrons, and feature the best of the best in our area on the stage is inspiring and motivating,” said Bell. “I love when we introduce our audiences to other arts organizations and watch all those boats rise!”