Pop musician partners with SSO in upcoming concert

Piano-based pop musician Jeffrey Straker performs with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra in their April 18 “Prairie Pops Spectacular” concert.

“Concerts with orchestras are a highlight of my touring,” said Straker, who visits Sudbury during a tour supporting his new album, “North Star Falling.”

“I try to tell to people that playing your music with a symphony is like performing on the wing of a jet plane, except the wind is replaced by music. An orchestra can be so powerful and emotional in its sound.

“I've had the pleasure of doing two shows in the past with conductor Victor Sawa who will be conducting in Sudbury and he's a complete joy to make music with…he really gets what I'm doing and helps to get the orchestra on that page, making for a wonderful concert.

“The music for the POPS concert in Sudbury has a bit of a 'prairie' theme to it with several of the songs leaning to the Canadian prairies in the stories that they tell. It has gone over really well with audiences in Canada and I'm looking forward to this concert!”

The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Glad Tidings Church. Tickets cost between $13 and $44, and are available by phone at 705-673-1280 or www.sudburysymphony.com.