The Symphony will team with Jeans ’n Classics--a Canadian ensemble of singers--for the first time on Dec. 10, at the Clark State Performing Arts Center.
“Given the financial restraints of orchestras today, it’s a great thing to get kids into a concert hall,” said Jean Meilleur, a featured singer with the Joel show. “It gets them to think, ‘This is cool. Maybe I’ll come back for some Beethoven or Mozart.’ ”
Initially, Meilleur confessed, Jeans ’n Classics met with some resistance from more conservative symphony audiences.
“Over the years,” he said, “there have been people who’ve walked out.”
But he considers Jeans ’n Classics to be the natural evolution of an orchestra staple — the pops concert.
“From Percy Faith, which is what it used to be, pops is now Billy Joel, Elton John and Pink Floyd,” he said. “Stuff we all grew up with. It’s a natural progression.”
How to go
What: The Springfield Symphony Orchestra and Jeans ‘n Classics performing the music of Billy Joel
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 10
Where: Kuss Auditorium
Ticket info: Visit springfieldsym.org or call (937) 328-3874.
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