Marvin Hamlisch Returns to Lead The Phoenix
Symphony in Hits from Stage and Screen

Weekend of Pops Concerts Features Hamlisch's Music of
Broadway and Hollywood January 4-6

PHOENIX (December 12, 2007) - After selling out three performances with The Phoenix Symphony in 2006, award-winning composer, conductor, and pianist Marvin Hamlisch returns to lead the orchestra in an exciting weekend of Pops concerts January 4-6, 2008 at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix. The weekend performances will feature selections from Hamlisch's celebrated scores from stage and screen including A Chorus Line and The Way We Were. The Friday and Saturday evening concerts begin at 8 p.m., and a special Sunday matinee begins at 2 p.m. The weekend of Pops concerts is presented as part of the "APS Pops" concert series.

Beloved by audiences and critics alike, Marvin Hamlisch has written major works for film, stage, recordings, and concert halls. Along with Richard Rogers, he is the only other person to have won the five major artistic achievements awards for his compositions including an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony, and the Pulitzer Prize. As a performer, he has led many of the great orchestras of the world performing often as a pianist and entertainer. Currently, he is principal pops conductor with several American orchestras including the National Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and the San Diego Symphony.

Tickets to hear Marvin Hamlisch are $25, $35, $45, $54, $64, and $74, and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 or by visiting the Symphony's website at www.phoenixsymphony.org.

This weekend of concerts is the fourth concert in the Pops Series during The Phoenix Symphony's 2007-08 Season. Future concerts in this series include "Broadway Showstoppers" on February 22-24, "The Piano Men: Music of Elton John and Billy Joel" on March 28-30, and "Big Screen Legends Featuring the Music of John Williams" on May 9-10.

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About Marvin Hamlisch: Marvin Hamlisch's life in music is notable for its great versatility as well as substance. As a composer, Hamlisch has won numerous major awards including three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony and three Golden Globe awards; his groundbreaking show, A Chorus Line, received the Pulitzer Prize. Having written more than forty motion picture scores, his prolific output of film scores include original compositions and/or musical adaptations for films including The Way We Were, Sophie's Choice, Ordinary People, and Three Men and a Baby. Mr.Hamlisch also holds the position of principal pops conductor for the National Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony and San Diego Symphony. After graduating from the Pre-College Division at the Juilliard School of Music, Hamlisch received a bachelor's degree from Queens College.

About The Phoenix Symphony: Celebrating its 60th Anniversary Season, The Phoenix Symphony has been proudly serving the citizens of the Phoenix metropolitan area and Arizona since 1947. What began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year (in a city of fewer than 100,000 people) today serves more than 300,000 people annually, with 275 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond.

Under the artistic leadership of Michael Christie as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director and administrative leadership of President Maryellen H. Gleason, the orchestra is overseen by the non-profit Phoenix Symphony Association under Board Chairman Gerald W. Murphy.

The 76-member Phoenix Symphony presents an annual season from September through the beginning of June, featuring full-length classical and pops concerts at Sym­phony Hall in downtown Phoenix, in Scottsdale, in Prescott, and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 50,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.

MARVIN HAMLISCH
Pops Concert No. 4

January 4 - Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.
January 5 - Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
January 6 - Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
Marvin Hamlisch, conductor and piano

Marvin Hamlisch is back by popular demand after
three sold-out performances in January 2006. Enjoy
the unforgettable music of Broadway and Hollywood
as only this Oscar, Grammy, and Tony award-winning
composer of A Chorus Line can create.

The Phoenix Symphony Pops Series is sponsored by APS.

TICKETS: $25, $35, $45, $54, $64, $74