News Summary: The Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota received a grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, which Pops Orchestra board member Amy Schachter matched, providing free tickets to the orchestra’s Hocus Pocus Pops concert. These tickets are being utilized by families associated with non-profit, community-based organizations in Sarasota County, working to close the arts access and opportunity gaps on the Cultural Coast.

Sarasota, FL (October 2025) — The Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota is proud to announce that it has received a grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, enabling the orchestra to offer free tickets to its upcoming Hocus Pocus Pops concert. This gift was matched by Pops Orchestra board member Amy Schachter, doubling its impact and ensuring that families served by local nonprofit and community-based organizations can enjoy a night of music, fun, and Halloween magic.

The initiative supports organizations across Sarasota County that are working to close arts opportunity gaps and expand arts access on Florida’s Cultural Coast. Families connected with organizations such as Take Stock in Children, Children First, Girls Inc, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club, Forty Carrots Family Center, Unidos Now, and many others will attend the concert as special honored guests.

The Pops Orchestra’s “Hocus Pocus Pops” performance takes place on Thursday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Riverview Performing Arts Center in Sarasota. This 70- to 80-minute show will feature popular Halloween favorites, including Ghostbusters, The Addams Family Theme, Beetlejuice, Selections from Wicked, Superstition, and more.

Highlights include Broadway performer Kevin Steele, who will teach the audience choreography to Time Warp, Monster Mash and Thriller, and BankOZK’s Scooter Maloney performing Vincent Price’s rap in Thriller.

Following the concert, Riverview High School clubs will host a trick-or-treat experience in the courtyard, and all attendees are encouraged to come in costume.

“This partnership allows us to share the live sounds of Halloween with families who might not otherwise have access,” said Robyn Bell, Music Director and Conductor of The Pops Orchestra. “The Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Amy Schachter’s generosity help ensure that the arts truly belong to everyone, and that even an orchestra experience can be fun for the whole family.”

For tickets and more information, visit www.ThePopsOrchestra.org, or call 941-926-POPS (7677)

Media Contact:

Robyn Bell, Managing & Artistic Director

[email protected]

www.ThePopsOrchestra.org

941-840-3444

About Dr. Robyn L. Bell

A passionate music educator and award-winning conductor, Dr. Robyn L. Bell has led The Pops Orchestra since 2011. Known for her creativity, charisma, and deep connection to the community, Dr. Bell has helped make the Pops a beloved cultural institution across Sarasota and Manatee counties.

About The Pops Orchestra: 

Since its founding in 1975, The Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota has produced critically acclaimed musical attractions for enthusiastic audiences of all ages. As one of the top performing arts groups in a unique, culturally rich community, The Pops Orchestra attracts full-time residents, Suncoast “Snowbirds,” and vacationers to its concerts, proving to be a cultural and economic asset to the Greater Bradenton and Sarasota communities. The 65-piece orchestra consists of many of the community’s finest professional musicians, community music makers, music educators, and high school and college music students, reflecting the diversity of its audience and patrons.