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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jayce Keane
Director of Public Relations
(714) 876-2383
[email protected]
“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” DECKS THE HALL WHEN
PACIFIC SYMPHONY WELCOMES THE VON TRAPP FAMILY CHILDREN—
GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN OF FAMOUS ANCESTORS
Selections from “Sound of Music” and holiday classics, plus ventriloquist
“Soap” star Jay Johnson and “Bob” retell “The Night before Christmas”
Orange County, Calif.—Nov. 16—The holiday season has never sounded better
when Pacific Symphony, led by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, is joined by
the singing von Trapp Family Children—the talented great-grandchildren of Captain
Georg and Maria von Trapp, whose story was made famous by one of the best-loved
musicals of all time, “The Sound of Music.” The concert, which takes place Dec. 13-15,
at 8 p.m., at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, features a mix of music from
the film, Christmas songs and other favorites. The first half of the concert includes
ventriloquist Jay Johnson and his sidekick (dummy) Bob—well known from their days
on the television show “Soap”—narrating “The Night before Christmas,” plus the
orchestra performing holiday music such as “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,”
“Bellringers’ Holiday,” “Sleigh Ride,” and a Christmas sing-a-long with the audience.
Tickets are $25-$95. For more information call (714) 755-5799 or visit
www.pacificsymphony.org.
“Christmas is always a festive time at Pacific Symphony, and this year it’s going
to be extra special,” says Maestro Kaufman. “The spirit of the season will be in full swing
as the musicians play holiday favorites and the von Trapp family children raise their
wonderful voices in song. When the concert is over, there will be no doubt that this is
indeed the most wonderful time of the year!”
The film “The Sound of Music” captured the hearts of millions when it debuted in
1965. Now, 40 years later, the von Trapp family legacy is born anew. The von Trapp
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Pacific symphony/von Trapp Children
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children—Sofia (19), Melanie (17), Amanda (16) and Justin (13)—are continuing the
singing tradition started by their great-grandfather Captain von Trapp. The great-grandchildren continued the tradition of the family’s musical gift and love of singing in 1997,
and have since toured all over the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan
and Korea. Their specialties are folk music from both Europe and America and, of
course, the music from “The Sound of Music.”
The children have performed on a variety of television shows including “The
View,” “Today,” “Fox and Friends,” “Good Morning America,” “CBS Sunday
Morning,” “The Grand Ole Opry,” “The 700 Club,” “Inside Edition,” and numerous top20 market television morning and news shows. Print coverage has included features in
The New York Times, Parade, People, LIFE, Good Housekeeping, Time for Kids, and
many other newspapers. The children have recorded five CDs: “The von Trapp Family
Children,” Vols. 1 and 2, “Christmas with the von Trapp Children,” “The von Trapp
Children A Capella,” and their most recent recording, “Snow!” (2007). In 2006, the
children were named “Outstanding Singing Group” at the Young Artists Awards.
Jay Johnson is remembered as “Chuck and Bob,” the crazy ventriloquist and his
dummy, on the classic television show “Soap.” Johnson began his performing career at
the age of 11 at amusement parks, performing more than 900 shows at Six Flags over
Georgia. On television, Johnson has performed on two HBO Specials, three comedy
specials, and numerous variety shows and commercials. On stage, he has performed in
Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno, and many other cities in the United States and around the
world. Also active as a cartoonist, writer and poet, the Wall Street Journal once called
him a “super-virtuoso.”
Supporters of the Symphony’s Pops series include its official hotel, The Westin;
official airline, American Airlines; Pops media sponsor, the Los Angeles Times; Pops
radio sponsor, KPCC 89.3; and official television station, KOCE-TV.
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