Concert Pops History

Dean Karahalis is the founder of the Concert Pops as well as the conductor and musical director. The vivacious style of Dean Karahalis draws the audience into each performance. Mr. Karahalis and the Concert Pops will encase you in the music and fill the very air with their intense energy. In the blink of an eye you will be transported in their musical time machine.

Dean Karahalis has performed with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, New York Lyric Choir, Goldovsky Opera and is Musical Director/Founder of the New York Brass Choir. He is an artist-clinician for the Conn-Selmer Musical Instrument Company and has performed extensively as a guest conductor and soloist throughout the United States. Recent conducting highlights have included performances at the United States Figure Skating Championships, U.S. Air Force Band, Washington, D.C., and a Night at the Opera with Metropolitan Opera star Robert Merrill. Karahalis is a graduate of Mannes College of Music, B.M., Aaron Copland School of Music, C.U.N.Y., Queens College, M.A. and Hofstra University, P.D.

In 1992, Karahalis was appointed Conductor-Musical Director for The Egievsky Ballet and is currently musical consultant to the Moscow Festival Ballet, Ballet de Bordeaux and has an extensive guest conducting schedule.

The Concert Pops have performed concerts throughout the east coast in their "Pops Under the Stars" series. Some highlights are performances with guest soloists, Marvin Hamlisch, the Manhattan Rhythm Kings, Broadway's Tommy Tune, Betty Buckley, Enzo Stuarti, Joel Gray, and Metropolitan Opera great Robert Merrill. They have also performed at benefit concerts of the American Cancer Society, United Way, Astoria Federal Savings Bank as well as performances at the United States Figure Skating Championships. The orchestra has also accompanied The Eglevesky Ballet, Russian National Ballet, Moscow Ballet, and Ballet deBourdeax, in tours of the United States.

The "Pops" is pleased to feature two outstanding guest vocalists, Deana Verone and Jim Serge, who have been heard in Broadway and Opera productions. Deana has performed extensively throughout the United States as a vocal soloist/regional theater. Jim Serge has performed opera and performances throughout the United States and Europe. He is a former member of the New York City Opera.

The "Pops" is heard annually in their outdoor club series entitled "Pops at Tanglewood" and at some of the most prestigious clubs on the east coast, including Tam O' Shanter, Seawaine, Muttontown, Long Island, Rockrimmon, Stamford Ct., Ridgeway, Sunningdale, Weschester Country Club, and Broken Sound, Boca Rotan, Florida.

The orchestra is made up of 30 of New York's finest musicians (woodwinds, brass and percussion) who perform regularly with Broadway shows, Radio City Music Hall, and Metropolitan Opera. The orchestra is recognized by the NY State Council of the Arts for its quality performances servicing the public since 1983.