Dinner concert benefits Carson Valley Pops

Concertmaster Eric Stern is keeping a tight lid on the musical selections he and a group of friends are playing for the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra fundraiser.

"We're going to play everything from Bach to Katy Perry. It's something the community can enjoy," Stern said. "It's going to be informal, and we want to see a lot of kids in the audience because kids need to know that music is cool."

The fundraiser is Feb. 25 in the CVIC Hall. The Pops board is serving a buffet Italian dinner that includes Caesar salad, sugo (Italian meat sauce) with rigatoni, garlic bread and spumoni ice cream for dessert. Adults are $10 and children under 12 are $5.

There is a no host bar. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. and recital at 7:15 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

As tradition, the new concertmaster of an orchestra is supposed to give a recital shortly after the appointment, but Stern has put his off for almost two years.

"I decided it should be used to make money for the orchestra instead," Stern said. "If it's fun, I'll probably do it again. That's going to be up to the audience."

Proceeds from the recital will help pay for new instruments and sheet music for the orchestra.

"You have to make a serious investment in sheet music so the audience isn't listening to the same music over and over," Stern said. "You want the orchestra's library to evolve."

Stern assumed the role of concertmaster in July 2010, and said he enjoys being a part of a community orchestra.

"It's fun. I don't feel like I have to get paid to go. I'm willing to play for free because it's so fun," he said. "In a community orchestra, especially the pops, everybody is part of a team and of a family. There's no politics. It's just fun."

Stern will be joined by pianist Linda Sandstrom, violinist Jason Bronson and cellist Evan Stern.

The Carson Valley Pops Orchestra performs an annual spring concert, Fourth of July concert, fall concert and a winter concert. All of the musicians, conductor, and board of directors are volunteers and receive no compensation. The pops is supported by donations from Douglas County, concert patrons, local business donations, and program advertising.

For more information, visit www.cvpops.org.