ARTISTS:

Toyota Pops: Diana Krall
Honolulu Symphony Orchestra
Matt Catingub, conductor
Diana Krall, piano and vocals

SPECIAL GUESTS:

Amy Hanaiali’i
Jimmy Borges
Henry Kapono
                                                 

CONCERTS:

Thursday, March 19 at 8 p.m. & Friday, March 20 at 8 p.m.
All concerts take place at Blaisdell Concert Hall
   

TICKETS:

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Thursday Night Tickets: $45, $55, $75, $90 and $ 105
Friday Night Tickets: $45, $55, $75, $90 and $125
Tickets are sold at Ticketmaster outlets (1-877-750-4400), Macy’s and www.ticketmaster.com
Monday to Friday: Call the Box Office at (808) 792-2000 (weekdays) or (808) 524-0815 ext. 245 (evenings).
www.honolulusymphony.com

Honolulu – An exciting milestone is fast approaching for Maestro Matt Catingub, celebrated conductor of the Grammy-nominated Honolulu Symphony Toyota Pops. Catingub will celebrate his tenth anniversary as pops conductor at two concerts with jazz superstar Diana Krall on Thursday, March 19 at 8 p.m. and Friday, March 20 at 8 p.m. at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. The concerts begin with special guest and legendary singer Jimmy Borges, who will host the celebration featuring musical tributes from Hawaiian music luminaries Amy Hanaiali’i and Henry Kapono. A video including Jake Shimabukuro, Bela Fleck, Aaron Mahi and many others will make it possible for Catingub’s friends from around the world to be part of the tribute.

Catingub’s first concert with the Toyota Pops took place in 1995 and featured Borges in “The Music of Frank Sinatra.” At the time, the Toyota Pops was simply known as the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and did not offer a full season of concerts. It would be a few more years before Catingub returned to take up his post as pops conductor to develop the unique Toyota Pops entertainment concept that fans enjoy today.

It was Borges who played an instrumental role in bringing Catingub to Hawaii.

“Jimmy is like a second dad to me,” said Catingub. “He and my mother were dear friends and I first met him when I was eight-years-old. As I started my music career, Jimmy was a great mentor. I was conducting orchestras on the mainland when he asked me to come and do the Sinatra show with him. In Honolulu, I knew that I had found something exceptional.”

Since his appointment as principal pops conductor in 1999, Catingub has created a new type of symphony programming that is unique to Hawaii. Unlike the conventional pops orchestras on the mainland that focus on light classics, the Toyota Pops works with contemporary artists in genres, such as pop, jazz, country, traditional and contemporary Hawaiian, R&B and rock.

During Catingub’s tenure, the Honolulu Symphony broke new ground when artists such as TOTO, James Ingram, Michael Feinstein, Pat Benatar and David Benoit selected Catingub and the Toyota Pops for their first symphony concerts. Catingub has also been a force for innovation in bringing popular Hawaiian artists to the Toyota Pops stage for their first-ever shows with a symphony orchestra.

“By blending Hawaiian music with the instruments and arrangements of a symphony orchestra, Matt Catingub has introduced dozens of Hawaiian artists to mainstream music fans and tourists,” said Tom Gulick, executive director, Honolulu Symphony. “Matt has grown the audience for Hawaiian music here at home and around the world. The result is a broader appreciation for Hawaiian music and culture, as well as symphonic music in general.”

“I’m looking forward to another ten years and continuing to present shows that set the Toyota Pops apart from all the other orchestras in the world,” said Catingub. “Mahalo to all the fans, sponsors and donors who keep the music alive!”

With the concerts just a few weeks away, tickets for Diana Krall with the Honolulu Symphony Toyota Pops are selling fast. Seating is limited in sections C, D and E. Toyota Pops fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets early. Prices start from $45.  Tickets are available from all Ticketmaster outlets, 1-877-750-4400 or www.ticketmaster.com. Mahalo to generous Honolulu Symphony sponsors Tori Richard and HiLuxury for making these concerts possible.