Photo of Reading Pops Orchestra

Dr. Willis M. Rapp, Conductor

Photo of Dr. Willis M. RappWillis M. Rapp holds the Bachelor of Science and Master of Music Degrees in Music Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, the Diploma of Fine Arts in Conducting from the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, and the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Instrumental Conducting from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Dr. Rapp has served on the faculty of Millersville University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Iowa State University, and Kutztown University, where he retired in 2013 with the distinction of Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Rapp has a forty-year career as a published author with over 500 publications to his credit through Charter Publications, Jenson Publications, Educational Programs Publications, Meredith Music Publications, and the Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation. With one exception, he was the youngest student to have studied timpani and orchestral repertoire with Fred D. Hinger, legendary timpanist for the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Dr. Rapp also performed as Principal Timpanist of the Allentown, PA Symphony Orchestra during the years when William Smith, former Associate Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, served as Music Director and Conductor of the ASO.

Since 2000, Dr. Rapp has served as conductor of the Reading Pops Orchestra; he has guest conducted, performed as a recitalist, and appeared as a clinician in twenty-eight states and three provinces in Canada. His scholarly text, The Wind Band Masterworks of Holst, Vaughan Williams and Grainger, was released in March 2005. In 2007 he was the recipient of the Kutztown University Faculty Research Award, and in Fall 2009 he was honored with the Arthur and Isabel Wiesenberger Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, making him the first faculty member in the history of the university to be honored with both awards.

Julie Beth Drey, Managing Director

Julie Beth Drey is a Magna cum Laude graduate of Temple University where she studied clarinet and saxophone with Ron Reuben of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She has been performing in the Reading area since 1983. Julie is a member of the Reading Symphony Orchestra. As a freelance musician Julie appears with various organizations, including the Berks Chamber Orchestra, The Fulton Opera House (Lancaster) show productions, Theater Musicians Organization of Allentown, Anthracite Philharmonic, Genesius Theater, and with the Reading Pops Orchestra where she also serves as President on the Board of Directors. Her duties include behind the scenes arrangements for each concert, promoting the group, fundraising, and anything benefiting the general success of the orchestra.

Julie is the founder of the Fyve Woodwind Quintet that performs for recitals and weddings. She is a member of the Reading Musical Foundation sponsored Music in the Schools woodwind quintet that presents educational concerts for the students of Berks County schools. She also has a duo, Just Friends, performing both classical and jazz repertoire. She has performed with the former Pottstown Symphony, and Schuylkill Symphony.

Rounding out Julie’s busy concert schedule is an active private studio of budding musicians. She is very proud of her clarinet, flute, and saxophone students who have placed well in Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra, Berks County Band and Orchestra, as well as Pennsylvania Music Educators District, Regional, and State bands and orchestras, and Reading Musical Foundation scholarships. And at the end of the day, Julie devotes practice time on clarinet, flute, and saxophone, preparing for her favorite performing opportunity, Broadway style shows. Other passions include listening to jazz, swimming, crafting jewelry, sewing, and cooking.

Recent Guest Conductors

Veronica E. Mascaro-Ferraro (Wyomissing Stone House 2023, Wyomissing Stone House 2024)

Veronica E. Mascaro-Ferraro, flutist and conductor, is a former Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas, where she was a doctoral student under the tutelage of Dr. James Scott and Professor Terri Sundberg. Ms. Mascaro is a past member of the North Texas Wind Symphony and current member of the Lone Star Wind Orchestra. Originally from Pennsylvania and a graduate of Wilson High School, Ms. Mascaro continues her east coast relationship with her memberships in the Kennett Symphony Orchestra, the Cantatica Chamber Orchestra, and the Bel Canto Orchestra. Veronica is a frequent performer at Salon 33 in Princeton, New Jersey! She performs and publishes with the Mascaro-Newman Flute and Guitar Duo. Internationally, Veronica has served as faculty member for the Ameropa International Chamber Music and Solo Master Class Festival in Prague and the ChamberArt Chamber Festival in Madrid, Spain. In Texas, Veronica is flute teacher at Flower Mound High School, Shadow Ridge Middle School, McKamy Middle School, Lewisville High School, and Maus Middle School. Locally, she is on faculty at the Nelly Berman School of Music. Ms. Mascaro is the current conductor of the McKinney Community Concert Band Flute Choir and the Flutissimo Flute Choir.

 

Andrew Cusano (Fathers’ Day/Juneteenth Remembrance 2022, Fathers’ Day/Juneteenth Remembrance 2023)

Andy is the son of former Pops conductor, Paul Cusano, and Ann Cusano who plays in the bassoon section.  Andy has also performed with the RPO in the percussion section over the years.  He is a graduate of Eastman School of Music and is currently enrolled in a wind conducting master’s program at West Chester University.   Andy is the band director at Governor Mifflin High School and was one of the founders of Berks Sinfonietta where he shared conducting duties and performed as a member of the ensemble.

 

Tyler Readinger (Wyomissing Stone House 2022)

Tyler Readinger, a native of Reading, will lead the RPO once again.  You may recall he was a guest conductor a few years ago!  Currently a doctoral student at the Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University, he holds a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in music education from Kutztown University.  He has quickly gained traction as a versatile young conductor, collaborating with world-class artists, ensembles from Jacobs School of Music, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Curtis Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and multiple summer conducting programs including the International Conducting Workshop and Festival in Lviv, Ukraine, among others.  A continuous advocate of music education to all ages and backgrounds, sharing the passion and joy of music had him working as an educator and private instruction within communities of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Kenya.  His enthusiasm on the podium has him conducting comfortably in a wide variety of styles and genres, from classical and symphonic, to contemporary and new music.  Please visit Tyler’s website.

 

Daniel Neuenschwander (Reading City Park Band Shell 2022, Heartland Marimba Quartet at Kutztown University 2022)

Dan Neuenschwander, Director of Bands at Kutztown University, will lead the Pops with guest artist Maria Damore.  Dan conducts KU Wind Ensemble, KU Symphonic Band, and KU Trombone Choir, featuring standard repertoire and orchestral transcriptions, and new music as well as lighthearted more incidental types of pieces.   During his 20+ years in music education he previously was on faculty at the University of Illinois Bands, and has also conducted high school/middle school honor bands and youth orchestras across several states. Please visit Dan’s bio on Kutztown University’s website.

 

 

Concert Archive

Click here for a sampling of some of our recent, past concerts.

OUR 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY - A LOOK BACK

The Reading Pops Orchestra celebrated our 50th Anniversary on Sunday, October 6, 2019!

Read on for a look back…

In the spring of 1964 Mr. Charles Keller, then president of the Reading Musical Society, spoke with Wes Fisher about putting on concerts in City Park. And thus, with the cooperation of the Reading musicians of the Reading Symphony Orchestra and with money from the Recording Industries Trust Fund the Reading “Pops” Orchestra was born. The first concert, with 35 musicians, was on June 14, 1964 in City Park with guest conductors J. Carl Borelli and Harold Dorwin. The Program was built around Flag Day with more than 2,000 attending! A second concert that summer, July 5, 1964 in addition to Wes Fisher, had guest conductors Gerald Hasbrouck (impresario of the museum concerts), and Les Yeager (Mt Penn Music faculty, formerly with Albright College). July 4, 1965 opened the 2nd annual series with a 40 piece orchestra, in two concerts. The success of these concerts was so great that in 1966 the Reading Musical Foundation decided to sponsor in its entirety a Pops concert as a gift to the City Park Series.. The practice of the musical director was to use local people as directors, namely Mr. Dorwin, Mr. Borelli, Mr, Hasbrouck, Mr. Yeager, Ray Kauffman, and Henry Gass. Local soloists were featured as well. Plans for 1967 included three concerts, June 11, July 16, and August 13, all Sundays at 8 pm. The Reading “Pops” Orchestra also performed for the Woman’s Committee of the Reading Symphony Orchestra at the Reading Motor Inn, and helped raise funds to support the Youth Concerts (information from the RSO program in 1967)

In notes from Wes Fisher, the Pops continued to perform more concerts each year given at different locations-the Pagoda, the Fire Tower (on Mt. Penn), Penn Square, Schlegel Park Field House, Wernersville, Kutztown, Albright College- always with local soloists and guest conductors. During the 1968 season 11 concerts were performed for an estimated 8,600 people! In 1969 the group formally organized into a non- profit, funded under the umbrella of the Reading Musical Foundation. Elected board members of the Reading Pops Orchestra Association were: Wes Fisher, president and musical director; Fritz Bingaman, first vice president and manager; Eugenia Matz, second vice president and publicity chairman; Mrs. James Duncan, secretary; Leila Gery, treasurer; Nicholas Geracimos, librarian; Dr. Frank Seikmann, J. Carl Borelli, and Henry Gass, conductors.

Annual appearances also included the Garden Party sponsored by the Women’s Auxiliary of Albright College, Grings Mill, Angelica Park, The Reading Public Museum Father’s Day concert, Hains Church (Wernersville), Muhlenberg Park, several of which became long standing events, including the Flag Day concerts at Kutztown Community Park, the Annual Father’s Day concert at the Reading Public Museum. Through the 70’s the orchestra continued to present concerts throughout the area, presenting lighter music, including popular classics, as well as classic pop, Broadway medleys, and marches, a description Henry Gass penned. The group was known for highlighting local conductors, musicians, composers and arrangers, a tradition that continues to today.

In 1979 a collaboration between the Allentown, Bethlehem, and Reading Libraries created the Kaleidoscope Concert Series that featured music from 1870-1910, in 1980 the music from 1910-1945 was presented, and in 1981 music from 1945 to the (then) present was performed in each town by the RPO under the direction of Henry Gass, which included several of his arrangements, and an original piece commissioned by the libraries, “Kaleidoscope: An Overture for Three Cities”.

The orchestra continued to evolve, growing to more than 50 members, including many area school and private teachers, and free -lance musicians.

By 1985 Wes Fisher stepped down as president and musical director, Dr. Frank Siekmann took over in those positions, and Charles Weiser continued as an assistant conductor. More annual series began in the 1980’s, including Scenic River Days from 1981-1993, which the Pops participated in, and the Muhlenberg Summer Concert series, with the RPO appearing from 1985 through 2016.

The Reading Choral Society, under the direction of Gail Poch, hired the Pops in the early 1990’s to accompany their holiday concert, leading to a long partnership. The Pops continued presenting “A Pops Holiday” on its own by 2002 , which then became part of the Miller Center Series.

Annual participation in the Gring’s Mill Fine Arts day ran from 1993 to 2006.

In the fall of 1993, new leadership of the Pops included Charles Weiser and Skip Norcott as co- conductors and Julie Beth Drey as president. Skip was a Boston native and channeled the Boston Pops with new ideas for the Reading Pops including a dinner concert series that began in 1996 with a fall and a Valentine’s concert presented through 2006. The Inn at Reading was the original location. The largest turn out of 500 people for the Music of Sinatra with Herb Geri as soloist February 14, 1999 prompted a change in location to the larger space of the Crown Plaza for subsequent years. For dinner music, the Pops Big Band, led by Erwin Chandler, was created by the woodwinds doubling on saxes, then the full orchestra entered the stage after the main meal. Lantern Lodge in Myerstown also hosted three Christmas dinner concerts, 1998-2000.

In addition, the Robesonia Library sponsored concerts from the late 1990’s through 2006, always showcasing musicians from the Conrad Weiser area, and performing in the school auditorium.

And in March of 1999 the Pops string section performed with Paquito D’Rivera as part of the Berks Jazz Fest, starting a long tradition and annual collaboration of the Reading Pops Orchestra with name jazz artists from around the world including: The Four Freshmen, Chuck Mangione, John Pizzarelli, Diane Shuur, Jane Monheit, Rick Braun, Brian Bromberg, Chuck Loeb, Eric Marienthal, Keiko Matsui, New York Voices, and the Brubeck Brothers. These concerts always thrill not only the audience but also the musicians in the RPO. With the passing of Skip Norcott in December of 1999, applicants for co-conductor guest directed the orchestra in the summer of 2000, with Dr. Willis M. Rapp and Paul Cusano being invited to join Charlie Weiser in the fall of 2000. The three conductors, each of whom were all very busy musicians, shared the podium in various combinations and complimented each other’s musical tastes in programming. When Paul Cusano passed in February of 2005, Charlie and Will continued as co-conductors. Charlie Weiser retired as conductor in 2007, and Dr. Rapp took the helm as conductor.

In 2002 The St. Daniel’s Lutheran Church of Robesonia choir director Jonathan Reinhold, who had soloed with the Pops many times over the years, invited the Pops to perform along with the choir in a Christmas Vesper service. The first year the congregation overflowed the church. By the third year the event was moved to the Conrad Weiser High School to accommodate the audience. This collaboration continues to draw nearly 1,000 people annually in this joyous celebration of the holiday season.

The Pops returned to the City Park Bandshell for concerts as part of the Berks Arts Council Summer concert series in 1998, 2003-05, and 2015.

The tradition of performing outdoor concerts during the summer months, in addition to the Annual Father’s Day concert, continues. The Wyomissing Recreation Board invited the Pops to present a Concert in the Park at the Stone House, a lovely setting, starting in 1998, and has now celebrated more than 20 years as a well-attended event with a very appreciative audience.

In the Fall of 2007 the Miller Center for the Arts opened on the campus of Reading Area Community College, and the Pops began the Sunday with the Pops series, three concerts per year, in this new auditorium. Guest artists have included Tribute to the Beatles, David Benoit, Ann Hampton Callaway, Andrew Neu, Livingston Taylor, Elliott Yamin, concert versions of “South Pacific” and “Carousel” with BrickHouse Theatre, and live music accompanying the 1920 silent movie “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”
KU Presents! October of 2014 featured pianist Clipper Erikson with the Pops in A Gershwin Tribute, performing “Rhapsody in Blue”, a new challenge musically for the RPO musicians, and November 10, 2017 was a joyful collaboration with The Boston Brass.

Starting in June of 2012 Berks youth were invited to perform in a Side by Side opportunity with the Pops, with 24 students participating. Each year this event has grown attracting more eager musicians, with 50 to 60 joining for a rehearsal and pizza party before the performance.

In December of 2017 the Reading Pops Orchestra again raised the bar and performed The Nutcracker with Berks Ballet Theatre, starting another tradition of excellence.

Other unique opportunities have included performing at the Willow Valley Lakes Community Cultural Center, supplying live music to The Legend of Zelda, a video game movie, The Constitution, an original composition by Erwin Chandler, and presenting entertainment during llama sale and exhibition weekends.

The Pops even made a commercial! It wasn’t really for the Pops, though. We were seated in a field as an ‘orchestra’ but with power tools mimicking instruments, while a mid-sized tractor was driven by. All a very clever concept, and a lot of fun to make! See it on our Facebook page, The Reading Pops Orchestra.

In 2018 the Board of Directors was reorganized, placing Michael Slechta as president, and Julie Beth Drey moving to Managing Director, continuing to evolve and follow the mission of the Reading Pops Orchestra.

Watch and listen as the RPO moves on to the next 50 years!