Program

Thursday, June 22, 2023
Eldean Boat Shed #3

Carl Topilow, Guest Conductor

Connor Bogart O’Brian, vocalist

6:00 p.m.
Holland Jazz Orchestra

Program announced from the stage

7:00 p.m.
Holland Symphony Orchestra

Also Sprach Zarathustra - Introduction

Jailhouse Rock and C’Mon Everybody

Copacabana

Pinball Wizard (The Who)     

Medley from Chicago

All I Care About is Love

Hey Jude (The Beatles)

76 Trombones from The Music Man

“This is the Moment” from Jekyll and Hyde

“Clarinetist” on the Roof
Carl Topilow. clarinet

INTERMISSION

Oh What a Night from Jersey Boys

Can’t Take My Eyes off of You from Jersey Boys

A George Gershwin Medley
Carl Topilow. clarinet

Medley from Grease 

Mambo from West Side Story

“Aldolpho” from The Drowsy Chaperone

Queen on Stage     

You’ll Be Back

My Way

Thursday, June 22, 2023 Eldean Boatshed #3, Macatawa

Click below to see a video from last year's Pops at the Pier concert!

6:00pm Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra
7:00pm Holland Symphony Orchestra with Connor O’Brian

Pops at the Pier on Thursday, June 22nd, rain or shine!  Inside the boat shed you will be treated to a delightful evening of music favorites from Broadway, food and fun with Holland Symphony and Guest Conductor, Carl Topilow from the Cleveland Pops and Broadway singer, Connor Bogart O’Brian.  Enjoy the best of Broadway with songs from Hamilton, Phantom, Les Misérables, Jersey Boys and Music Man!  This fun filled show produced by one of the most successful entertainers will be sure to delight all ages.  Doors open at 5:30.

Two food trucks from Mezkla and daKidd BBQ will be at the concert with summer food selections available for sale. Beer, wine, and water are also available for purchase starting at 5:30pm.

We encourage audience members to bring their own chairs, but there will be some available at the shed on a first come-first served basis.

This concert is sponsored by University of Michigan Health – West.  Special thanks for the in-kind support of Eldean Shipyard, Waterfront Film Festival and Anchorage Marina Yacht Club.

Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra will begin the show performing for pre-concert enjoyment at 6:00pm. Then the Holland Symphony will take the stage at 7:00pm.

Tickets for the show will be $30 Adults and $5 Students. Tickets are available from the Symphony online, by phone at 616-796-6780, or at the concert.

Connor Bogart O’Brian

A classical violinist since the age of five, Connor Bogart (Connor Bogart O'Brian) studied opera at the Eastman School of Music in New York, and has since toured the globe as a professional performer.

Notable theater performances have included leading roles in Miss Saigon (Chris), West Side Story (Tony), Sweeney Todd (Anthony), Rock of Ages (Stacee Jaxx), The Last Five Years (Jamie), Company (Bobby), Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph), Forever Plaid (Sparky), as well as Altar Boyz (Abraham). A native of Northeast Ohio, Connor decided to leave the violin behind to study vocal performance/opera at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in New York (U. S. News and World Report ranked #1 Music Conservatory in America 2010-2012) under the direction of Dr. Robert McIver. During his time at Eastman, he also auditioned for, and was subsequently accepted into the nationally ranked male a cappella group, The University of Rochester Yellowjackets, (as seen on NBC's "The Sing Off") as a featured soloist. After recording several award winning albums with the group, a love of singing without instruments took hold and in subsequent years led to executive producing future Yellowjacket albums and being a national finalist for the world famous vocal band Rockapella in their search for a new second tenor.

Connor has been a featured soloist with The Charlotte Symphony, The Fort Worth Symphony, the National Repertory Orchestra, The Cleveland Pops, The Symphony of Southeast Texas, The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, The Rochester Philharmonic, The Toledo Symphony, The Mansfield Symphony, The New Haven Symphony, The Akron Symphony, The Rappahannock Pops, Music In The Mountains (The Dallas Symphony), The Fireland Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra. He has served as executive music supervisor and composer to The Discovery Channel for their series, [The Kustomizer, and as a songwriter, had had several of his original songs featured on national television.

"Inside Out," the lead single from his self-titled first album, vaulted to the number one radio position in France, and held the position for several weeks. Two full-length albums followed, "Soliloquy" which featured a cover story in Scene Magazine, as well as the hit single "Ready To Fall," a national semi-finalist entry in Sony Music and Clear Channel's "Radiostar" competition hosted by Ryan Seacrest and KISS FM's Elvis Duran. His third album "Prizefighter" is his latest rock release.

He has since toured the U.S, and along with his band, has performed as the opening act on over 20 national tours, including Ashlee Simpson, Huey Lewis and The News, Edwin McCain, Richard Marx, Rick Springfield, Hall & Oates, and Mariah Carey. Connor can currently be heard behind the scenes singing and recording jingles for companies such as Hasbro Toys and American Greetings, performing on tour with native Clevelander and Grammy nominee Jim Brickman, as well as in over 32 countries worldwide as a headlining act on Princess, Holland America, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruise lines with his previous group of Broadway veterans, "The Matinee Idols," his current solo show available in both English and Mandarin Chinese, and as the Guest Rock Tenor in Princess' Cruises newest production show, "Rock Opera."

Carl Topilow, Guest Conductor

Carl Topilow is renowned worldwide for his versatility, whether he is holding a conductor's baton or his trademark red clarinet. He is a multi-talented virtuoso who is equally at home in classical and popular music both as conductor and instrumentalist. Carl's pops performances blend the music of Broadway and Hollywood, as well as popular music, light classics and jazz, often finding an occasion to include a number on his array of brightly colored clarinets. His unique approach to pops programming includes extensive audience involvement and true showmanship.

Carl is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, with a degree in clarinet performance and a masters degree in music education. He has held conducting fellowships with the National Orchestral Association with Leon Barzin and the Aspen Music Festival under Jorge Mester. Carl began his professional career as Exxon Arts Endowment Conductor of the Denver Symphony Orchestra.

Following his longtime dream of conducting his own pops orchestra, Carl founded the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. The orchestra, currently in its 25th season, plays its subscription series in Severance Hall and performs in several other locations throughout Ohio. The Cleveland Pops Orchestra's diverse, innovative and electrifying programs have been critically acclaimed. The orchestra has three CDs, Music to Grow On, an exciting collection of music for children and adults of all ages, Live at the Pops, a stirring compilation of music taken from live performances, and a 20th anniversary CD, which includes a selection of live performances taken from concerts over a span from the past decade.