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TOP OF THE POPS, BACK IN THE SWING

October 15, 2009 12:36 am

In August of last year, Kirk Wilke of the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra was up against a wall. Having been denied a practice space by James Monroe High School, the orchestra's former home, the season seemed improbable.

The prospect of no orchestra horrified Wilke, who has played music since he was 3 years old.

"[Music] evokes an emotion and fills a need inside me that I can't do without," he said.

Wilke found the solution to his predicament at Grace Church Center for the Arts. He paid a visit to center director Mike Merritt, and the two were able to reach an agreement that let RPO use Grace Church's performance space.

"We were familiar with them and had heard great things about them," Merritt said. "It seemed like a great opportunity interface with the community."

This year, things have improved drastically for Wilke's group. The well-loved Rappahannock Pops will kick off its 10th-anniversary season on Oct. 17 at Grace Church in Fredericksburg with a concert of big-band tunes.

"We're in better shape now than we've ever been," Wilke said.

With a venue they can reserve well in advance, the orchestra can focus on a productive season--and a full schedule.

Since the group's inception in 1999, it's had the luxury of a captive audience.

According to Wilke, after the group's inaugural performance, he knew the area had an appetite for a pops orchestra--an orchestra that plays a blend of show tunes, big-band tunes and popular classical pieces.

"When we started, we didn't know what to expect," he said.

According to RPO's official history, the group's first performance at Maury Stadium July 3, 2000, attracted nearly 2,000 people.

Since then, Wilke said, the group has only grown.

"This summer the orchestra has grown exponentially," he said.

For a man with Wilke's resume, a group like the Rappahannock Pops stands out. Wilke was the conductor of the Washington Symphony Orchestra until it folded, and has traveled to China to be a guest conductor.

Even so, Wilke considers the Pops one of his most-rewarding gigs yet.

"It's a very good orchestra, and it's very fun to work with," he said.

With such a positive reaction to their first show, Wilke saw that Fredericksburg could support an entire orchestra. When the D.C. orchestra went under, Wilke knew the time was right.

"Basically I was trying to move on to something else and started putting everything into the Rappahannock Pops," he said.

This season, the group will play five dates around the area, including their popular holiday program in December and annual Memorial Day concert.

Depending on the year, RPO is made up of between 60-75 players from around the area. To keep people interested and moving forward, Wilke hires musicians from all walks of life.

"The model I made up was professionals, highly qualified amateurs and highly qualified students," Wilke said.

The dynamic works well to keep the members playing their sharpest.

"Amateurs bring a certain passion, professionals bring expertise and students bring intrigue," he said.

That dynamic, combined with a wealth of hometown talent, is what gives RPO its charm.

Merritt says RPO brings a level of talent to Fredericksburg that most people associate with bigger cities.

"I think in Fredericksburg we're often looking to D.C. and Richmond for the really good stuff, and here we have it right here in Fredericksburg," he said.

For the month before each show, the orchestra conducts four group rehearsals to get everything in order. The group practices on three consecutive Sunday nights and makes its final tweaks the Friday before the show.

For Wilke, one of the best things about working with RPO is that it is a small, hometown-based orchestra.

"There's a lot of talent in Fredericksburg," Wilke said. "A lot of really good players come play with us."

Wilke said the group's main focus is enjoyment of the process of making music.

"It's a lifelong journey that you're never completely satisfied with," he said. "That's what makes it satisfying for a lifetime."

Aaron Richardson: 540/374-5000, ext. 5617
Email: arichardson@freelancestar.com