Ocean City Pops—Support Us

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At the age of 30 William Scheible was plucked from the first trumpet section to lead the Ocean City POPS as its new director. Even though the orchestra had frequently made an effort to showcase young talented performers from across the tri-state area, Maestro Scheible saw an increased need to connect with young students and young adults directly, especially in introducing to them live music.

In 1988 he introduced the highly successful Family Lollipops Concerts on the Music Pier, and among one of the first guest artists for these concerts was Mr. McFeely from the nationally syndicated TV show Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood. These concerts are a highlight of the annual POPS’ summer season and have been generously sponsored by Gillian’s Wonderland since their inception.

In addition, Maestro Scheible sensed an urgent need in developing young musicians and music-lovers in the South Jersey region. Among his first endeavors was creating a side-by-side instrumental concert experience with the Ocean City HS musicians in an annual September concert. Consequently, the Board of the Friends of the POPS has instituted annual orchestra workshops in the schools utilizing ensembles from the orchestra. And in collaboration with the City of Ocean City, an annual POPS concert at the Middle Township Performing Arts Center in Cape May County is presented - where over 900 students are prepared for this concert with preparatory listening and discussion guides prepared from the orchestra office.

Maestro Scheible has also established a long-lasting relationship with the International Strings 2000 summer camp in which the competition winner annually is presented in a summer concert at the Music Pier with the POPS. Approximately 20-30 members of the Philadelphia Orchestra are involved in this exceptional summer music camp.

Also new in Mr. Scheible’s tenure was the initiation of the children’s summer Musical Theater Camps. Over the years children between the ages of 8-16 were encouraged to train along side professional actors/singers in planning and rehearsing for a fully-staged Broadway musical presentation at the Music Pier. This has since branched out to incorporate into a separate theater camp underwritten by the City of Ocean City, as part of its summer recreational offerings for youth.

And in 2000, Maestro Scheible began a new series at the Pier entitled Rising Stars of Tomorrow, which showcases exceptionally talented and gifted young performers in an entire evening with the orchestra.

New in 2004 is the Ocean City POPS Regional Student Competition at the Music Pier. It is hoped this new endeavor will create even more interest among area youth to participate in preparing for careers in music and music education. This new project is sponsored by the Friends of the Ocean City Pops, Inc.

For more information about these and other youth events- please call the POPS office at 609-525-9246, ext. 13.