ABOUT THE ORCHESTRA
Calendar of Events
The PG Pops is a premier community orchestra for advancing student musicians of all ages from any community. We offer a supportive environment for the study of winds, strings, & percussion through modern and popular repertoire. The weekly rehearsals are locally staffed with award-winning music educators and freelance musicians. Students and professionals work together to foster all musicians and their connections within the Peninsula music community.
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PACIFIC GROVE POPS ORCHESTRA
Twelfth Concert Season
2024 - 2025
The next concert is December 14th, at 2:00 PM
Concerts are Saturdays in December, March and May at 2 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center of Pacific Grove
835 Forest Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
REHEARSALS
Tuesdays, 4:45PM - 6:30PM
DROP INs ARE WELCOME
COME PLAY WITH US!
Our goal is to enrich the musical opportunities of local student and amateur adult musicians, professional artists and our community through advanced study, performance, and collaboration with local music educators & freelance musicians.
Your patron donation or musician donation helps cover basic costs associated with the orchestra & staff.
To become a patron or musician;
Contact us at info@pgpopsorchestra.com
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PG Pops Orchestra
Artistic Director, Conductor and
Founder
Barbara A. Priest
An award winning music educator of over 25 years and a lifetime musician, Barbara is the director of instrumental music at Pacific Grove Middle School; Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, String Orchestra, Jazz Band & Jazz Combo, has served as the district music coordinator, and is a member of the Monterey French Horn Ensemble.
She has won the music educator of the year from both CMEA and the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Crystal Apple Award in 2020, is the past president for CMEA-CCS, and has served the California Music Educator's Association for the Central Coast Section by hosting regional music festivals and events serving four counties.
Barbara is a proud product of peninsula school music programs and is the first honored alumni of Youth Music Monterey. Originally a flute student, career highlights include a French horn scholarship at CSU Northridge under the direction of Dr. David Whitwell and Gary Pratt, studied Jazz with Ladd Macintosh and Joel Leach, conducting with John Alexander, and with Mitch Fennell, earning a BA in Music Education at CSU, Fullerton.
She is published in the CMEA Music Education Journal, has toured the West coast and Europe performing French horn in symphonic and wind ensemble concert tours. Barbara has enjoyed recording studio work in Los Angeles and playing horn as a member and guest conductor for the La Mirada Symphony and YOSAL Orchestras
Barbara has authored millions in grants, helped design three music facilities, designed K-8 Music curriculum including work aligning Common Core Standards with National Framework and State Music Education Standards. She has served on the boards of both the Norwalk La Mirada Foundation for the Performing arts as well as the board of directors for the Performing Arts Center of Pacific Grove.
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An Orchestra with a Mission
The Pacific Grove Pops Orchestra is a
premier community orchestra for the Monterey Peninsula
founded to support and engage local student musicians through collaboration with freelance musicians and award winning music educators.
Supplemental opportunities for musicians of all ages with quality popular repertoire in community concerts, creates a foundation to support musical arts in Pacific Grove and throughout the entire Monterey Peninsula.
Our young musicians become future artists and patrons of the arts, which enriches our own culture.
JOIN US TODAY ..............................................................................................................................