N E W S   R E L E A S E

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       May 15, 2009 

The Phoenix Symphony Season Closes with

the Music of 007:  James Bond 

Michael Krajewski Leads Pops Concerts

Dedicated to British Secret Agent 

      PHOENIX – Guest conductor Michael Krajewski leads The Phoenix Symphony in the finale to the 2008/09 Season featuring the music of James Bond and the world’s favorite crime fighters in “007: Bond and Beyond” June 5-6. John Barry’s bold, classic music from Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and You Only Live Twice sets the stage for an evening of music inspired by pop culture’s favorite fictional characters. Friday and Saturday evening concerts begin at 8 p.m. at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix.

      As the principal pops conductor of the Houston and Jacksonville symphonies, Michael Krajewski has also held positions with the Detroit, Long Beach and New Mexico symphonies. His long list of guest appearances includes performances with the Boston Pops and Doc Severinsen. In addition to the music of the Bond films, selections on the evening’s program will include the theme from Mission: Impossible and music of superheroes Batman and Spiderman. Selections from Mancini’s The Pink Panther and a unique Concerto for Cell Phone, in which the orchestra mimics common ring tones played by the “cellphone-ist,” round out the concert.

      Tickets to see “007: Bond and Beyond” range from $26 to $76 and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602-495-1999 or by visiting www.phoenixsymphony.org. As part of The Phoenix Symphony’s 2008/09 Pops Season, these concerts are sponsored by APS.

      About Michael Krajewski: Michael Krajewski serves as principal pops conductor of the Houston and Jacksonville symphonies. In addition, he completed his long tenures as principal pops conductor at the Long Beach Symphony in 2005 and at the New Mexico Symphony in 2007. Prior to these appointments, he served for eleven years as music director of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra, and has also held positions with the Detroit and Florida symphony orchestras. As a guest conductor, he has appeared with the Boston Pops and the orchestras of Detroit, St. Louis and San Francisco among many others. Notable guest artists with whom he has performed include Doc Severinsen, Cab Calloway, Al Hirt and The Canadian Brass.

      About The Phoenix Symphony: 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 almost 200 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 C.A. Howlett.

      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, as well as concerts in Scottsdale, Mesa, 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. 

007: Bond and Beyond

Pops Concert No. 8

June 5 – Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.

June 6 – Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.

Symphony Hall

The Phoenix Symphony

Michael Krajewski, conductor

Michael Krajewski returns to Phoenix with the music of our favorite

secret agent, Bond… James Bond. From scores from the 007

movies, including Goldfinger and The Spy Who Loved Me, to music

inspired by the world of crime-fighters and superheroes, this is the

ultimate tribute to those who have come to save the day.

Tickets: $26, $36, $46, $56, $66, $76

PHOENIX SYMPHONY BOX OFFICE: 602-495-1999 or www.phoenixsymphony.org