readingeagle.com

Concert review: Guitarist Cullenshows versatility as soloist withpops orchestraby Susan L. Pena • June 22, 2015

Reading Eagle: Margo Reed | Dave Cullen performs Sunday with theReading Pops Orchestra as part of Berks Country Fest at CacoosingMeadows Park, Spring Township.

Concert review: Guitarist Cullen shows versatility as soloi... https://www.readability.com/articles/cqc6ur1o

1 of 8 1/11/16, 2:55 PM

Concert review: Guitarist Cullen shows versatility as soloist with pops orchestraMonday June 22, 2015 12:01 AMBy Susan L. Pena

When Dave Kline, the executive director of Pretzel City Productions, the presenter of Berks Country Fest, tried to explain to me the feeling of country, he kept saying: "It's that feel; it's that vibe."It was hard to put into words.

But as the festival ended late Sunday afternoon with an Americana concert by the Reading Pops Orchestra in Cacoosing Meadow Park, Spring Township, that feel and that vibe were present in abundance.

Depending on where you parked, you had to walk through a large meadow filled with clover and various types of toadstool, and cross a bridge over the creek, where kids were dipping their toes in the cold water.

The orchestra was seated under a picnic pavilion (where I was lucky enough to sit), rustic and shady; much of the audience reclined in lawn chairs under the trees. There were refreshments provided by an old-fashioned ice cream truck and picnickers and the smell of citronella. How much more country could it get?

Under the direction of Willis Rapp, the orchestra wove its annual Father's Day concert into a collection of American music enfolded in the Country Fest lineup. They opened and closed the first half of the concert with Aaron Copland: "Fanfare for the Common Man" and "Hoedown" from his ballet "Rodeo."

Featured as soloist was guitarist David Cullen, who performed his beautiful "Americana Guitar Concerto," with its three movements created from tunes he has recorded for solo guitar. "Midari" was a breezy, lovely piece with a cheerful feel; "Coming Home" was calm and reflective, song-like and performed with a wonderful singing tone. For the last, "Cycles," he was joined by his wife, oboist Jill Haley, who was playing in the woodwind section of the Pops.

Cullen also was joined by drummer Christopher Hanning for the concerto. His daughter, Dana Cullen, a recent graduate of the Curtis Institute, was playing in the horn section of the Pops.

Cullen returned during the second half to play "The Good Life" and "Blue Skies," in arrangements for guitar and orchestra by Randy Porter, with Hanning again on drums. In these songs he demonstrated his expertise at jazz guitar.

In its accompanying role, the Pops never once drowned out Cullen's guitar; the balance was perfect.

The Pops concertmaster, Vladimir Alexandruk, performed the solo in Jay Ungar's beloved "Ashokan Farewell" with grace and tenderness. The arrangement for orchestra by Calvin Custer was gorgeous.

The rest of the program was a potpourri of American styles: Broadway ("Salute to Richard Rodgers" in an arrangement by Ted Ricketts, and "Curtain Up!" arranged by Bob Krogstad, a razzle-dazzle collection of tunes); popular (Leroy Anderson's "Blue Tango" and Percy Grainger's "Country Gardens," popular during the early 20th century); and patriotic (F.W. Meacham's "American Patrol," John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever" and Samuel Augustus Ward's "America the Beautiful," arranged by Carmen Dragon).

Contact Susan L. Pena: life@readingeagle.com.

Reading Eagle: Margo Reed | The Reading Pops Orchestra performed withDavid Cullen Sunday as part of Berks Country Fest at Cacoosing MeadowsPark in Spring Township.

Reading Eagle: Margo Reed | Dana Cullen, daughter of David Cullen,performs with The Reading Pops Orchestra and guitarist, David Cullen as

Concert review: Guitarist Cullen shows versatility as soloi... https://www.readability.com/articles/cqc6ur1o

2 of 8 1/11/16, 2:55 PM

part of Berks Country Fest Sunday at Cacoosing Meadows Park in SpringTownship.

Reading Eagle: Margo Reed | Dr. Willis M. Rapp conducts The ReadingPops Orchestra, which performed Sunday as part of Berks Country Fest atCacoosing Meadows Park in Spring Township.

Concert review: Guitarist Cullen shows versatility as soloi... https://www.readability.com/articles/cqc6ur1o

3 of 8 1/11/16, 2:55 PM

Reading Eagle: Margo Reed | Percussionist Janelle Decker performs withThe Reading Pops Orchestra Sunday as part of Berks Country Fest atCacoosing Meadows Park in Spring Township.

Reading Eagle: Margo Reed | Concertmaster, Vladimir Aleksandrukperforms with the Reading Pops Orchestra Sunday as part of Berks CountryFest at Cacoosing Meadows Park in Spring Township.

Concert review: Guitarist Cullen shows versatility as soloi... https://www.readability.com/articles/cqc6ur1o

4 of 8 1/11/16, 2:55 PM