Philly Pops celebrates 39th season with POPS Rocks

Get ready to belt out your favorite classic rock songs.

It's the Pops 39th season finale concert, titled POPS Rocks, and the ensemble is putting on a show of chart-topping hits and giving the audience an opportunity to sing along.

"There's no greater rock band anywhere than the Philly Pops 65-piece orchestra," says Frank Giordano, President and CEO of the Philly Pops. "We will rock the Kimmel Center; it will be a phenomenal show."

The concert will feature iconic favorites from Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Queen.

"''Stairway to Heaven,' 'Viva la Vida,' 'Bohemian Rhapsody,'" says Giordano, "songs that are well-known to everyone."

The musicians will be joined on stage by the Pops Festival Chorus and guest soloist and Broadway star Bryce Ryness.

"Just a tremendous voice," says Giordano,."And his voice really lends very well to these uh rock classics."

In keeping with tradition, the audience will get to participate in a sing-a-long led by conductor Michael Krajewski.

"Michael's the one who instituted it a few years ago and the audience loves it," says Giordano.

The show kicks off with a pre-concert on the plaza stage featuring a performance by Home, a band comprised of students from South Philadelphia's Andrew Jackson Elementary School.

"Which is one of Mayor Kenney's favorite bands," says Giordano. "They're well-known not only in Philadelphia but beyond."

Giordano says the season finale show is always a hot ticket: "It'll be a sellout; there won't be an empty seat in the hall."

The Philly Pops perform POPS Rocks April 27- 29 in the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall. For tickets and showtimes visit The Arts in Philly.