14 May 23 - 25 — Pops Let’s Groove Tonight- Motown & The Philly Sound
Friday, May 23, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 2:30 pm
ALLEN-BRADLEY HALL
Byron Stripling, conductor
Chester Gregory, vocals
Cherise Coaches, vocals
Brik.Liam, vocals
Tim Lappin, bass
Douglas Marriner, drums
a Schirmer Theatrical/Greenberg Artists co-production Arrangements by Jeff Tyzik
TSOP (THE SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA), by Kenneth Gamble and Leon A. Huff
As Recorded by MFSB
LET’S GROOVE, by Maurice White and Wayne Lee Vaughn
As Recorded by Earth, Wind & Fire
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, by Barret Strong and Norman Whitfield
As Recorded by Marvin Gaye
COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE, by Melvin Steals and Mervin Steals
As Recorded by The Spinners
YOU’LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE, by Kenneth Gamble and Leon A. Huff
As Recorded by Lou Rawls
HURT SO BAD, by Bobby Hart, Teddy Randazzo, and Robert Wilding
As Recorded by Little Anthony and The Imperials
MY GIRL, by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White
As Recorded by The Temptations
I’LL BE AROUND, by Thomas Randolph Bell and Phil Hurtt
As Recorded by The Spinners
BACK STABBERS, by Leon A. Huff, Gene McFadden, and John Cavadus Whitehead
As Recorded by The O’Jays
DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY, by Kenneth Gamble, Cary Gilbert, and Leon A. Huff
As Recorded by Thelma Houston
INTERMISSION
A FIFTH OF BEETHOVEN, by Ludwig van Beethoven and Walter Murphy
As Recorded by Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band
BALL OF CONFUSION (THAT’S WHAT THE WORLD IS TODAY), by Barret Strong and Norman Whitfield
As Recorded by The Temptations
PEOPLE MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND, by Thomas Randolph Bell and Linda Epstein
As Recorded by The Stylistics
ME AND MRS. JONES, by Kenneth Gamble, Cary Gilbert, and Leon A. Huff
As Recorded by Billy Paul
I’M COMING OUT, by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers
As Recorded by Diana Ross
ROCK THE BOAT, by Waldo T. Holmes
As Recorded by The Hues Corporation
LOVE TRAIN, by Kenneth Gamble and Leon A. Huff
As Recorded by The O’Jays
AIN’T NO STOPPIN’ US NOW, by Jerry Cohen, Gene McFadden, and John Whitehead
As Recorded by McFadden & Whitehead
ALL ARRANGEMENTS LICENSED BY SCHIRMER THEATRICAL, LLC
Creative Team
Robert Thompson, Producer
Jeff Tyzik, Producer & Arranger
Jami Greenberg, Producer & Booking Agent
Betsey Perlmutter, Producer
Alex Kosick, Associate Producer
For more information on the music and artists featured in Let’s Groove Tonight, use the code below to access the Digital Concert Program.
This weekend’s media sponsor is WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO
The length of this concert is approximately 2 hours. All programs are subject to change.
Guest Artist Biographies
CHESTER GREGORY
Chester Gregory is an award-winning singer and actor. He was last seen starring in Motown: The Musical as the iconic Berry Gordy. Broadway credits include Motown: The Musical, Hairspray, Tarzan, Cry-Baby, and Sister Act. Other credits include August Wilson’s Fences and Two Trains Running. He has toured nationally with Dreamgirls and Sister Act, as well as his one-man show, The Eve of Jackie Wilson. Gregory has received many awards, including the Jeff Award and a NAACP Theatre Award, and has been presented with the key to the city of both his hometown of Gary, Indiana and East Chicago. He has also been chosen as an honorary state representative of Indiana and has received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, Columbia College Chicago. He is currently producing several projects and recordings, and can be found online at @ChesterGregory and chestergregory.com.
CHERISE COACHES
Cherise Coaches is a hardworking recording artist, songwriter, vocal coach, producer, and actress from the south suburbs of Chicago. With music as a hereditary gift, her formal education has only added to her ability to succeed at anything she puts her mind to.
Coaches attended Columbia College Chicago and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal performance. During her time there, she got to work with and share the stage with some amazing artists, such as Grammy Award-winner Paula Cole, Brian Culbertson, and Mike Stern. She has also gone on to work with artists such as Jeremih, Carl Thomas, Kenny Latimore, Glen Jones, and many more.
In the fall of 2012, Coaches finally released her first official single on iTunes, “The Juice,” written by her and producer Tony Treble. She went on to release her Christmas EP in December of that year, Snowfall, which is also the single from the EP. Following that was her single “Ride For Ya,” which was released on SoundCloud in June 2017. Her latest single, “Rewind,” released in September of 2018, and can be found on all online music store and streaming platforms. Coaches has made many waves in the acting world, as well. She made her co-star debut in season two of the Starz Network series The Chi. She also has many accomplishments in theater, featuring in shows like Men of Soul (Black Ensemble Theater), Dreamgirls (Porchlight Music Theater), HAIR, where she portrayed Dionne (Geva Theatre Center and Mercury Theater Chicago), the North American Tour of Disenchanted as The Princess Who Kissed The Frog, and her favorite to date, portraying the role of Young Patti LaBelle in A New Attitude: In Tribute to Patti Labelle. Her work in the theater has earned her two nominations from The Black Theater Alliance as most promising actress and best featured actress in a musical, as well as Jeff Award wins and nominations.
Guest Artist Biographies
JACOBY “BRIK.LIAM” WILLIAMS
Cultivated in diverse backgrounds and raised in the church with his mother as head of the choir, Jacoby “Brik.Liam” Williams was exposed to different genres of music that influenced his current sound. Williams was born in Petersburg, Virginia and reared in Germany and Houston, Texas. His frequent relocation is a result of his military family upbringing. His early introduction to music helped shape his outlook on music and creativity. Now as an artist, Williams is in a league of his own, fusing classic soul vibes like the sounds of Marvin Gaye with the urban contemporary music fans are accustomed to today.
The stage name Brik.Liam is a two-part compilation: “Brik,” a synonym for his favorite color, red, and “Liam,” an abbreviation of his last name. Williams also has a signature image of a floating red balloon that helps fans to identify his work in any setting. Williams’s perspective on artistry and his contribution to the music industry today can be described as poetic and unconventional, which adds to his unique appeal.
Williams’s career has evolved to greater success in recent years. He’s released albums, performed with some of the industry’s brightest talent, and has showcased his music across the globe. Williams has performed in places like London and the Republic of the Congo. Notably, Williams has toured the United States as an opening performer for Grammy Award-winning artist PJ Morton during the 2018 More Gumbo tour and the 2019 Paul tour. Since then, Williams has also completed a solo tour in Russia and released his EP What’s The Matter, Brik.
TIM LAPPIN
Tim Lappin has been touring the world playing with the likes of Chet Faker, John Splithoff, Adam Green, and many more over his career. His original indie rock project, Casual Male, just released their first full length record, Casual Male, now available everywhere.
Guest Artist Biographies Continued on page 18
Guest Artist Biographies
DOUGLAS MARRINER
Douglas Marriner is a third-generation musician and a jazz drummer, actor, composer, and educator born in London, currently based in New York City. Marriner regularly performs with many of America’s leading orchestras, including the Detroit, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Vancouver symphony orchestras. His recording of Derek Bermel’s Migrations Series with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, and Ted Nash was nominated for a Grammy award in 2020.
In 2013, Marriner became the first British musician to be awarded a place in The Juilliard School’s prestigious jazz program on a scholarship. After completing his master’s degree, he was awarded the drum chair for the Artist Diploma Ensemble, where his sextet was coached by Wynton Marsalis and Kenny Barron, touring Europe, South America, and Japan. He has been fortunate enough to study with and be mentored by master musicians including Kenny Washington, Billy Hart, Nasheet Waits, Wynton Marsalis, and André Previn.
Marriner is a passionate educator and was director of The Juilliard School’s Music Advancement Program percussion ensemble, in addition to teaching percussion lessons, coaching their orchestral musicians, and mentoring their young educators. He has also taught for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s education programs and summer schools, Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect, the Jazz Arts Collective, and is on the teaching faculty at Fordham University, Bloomingdale School of Music, and the Louis Armstrong Foundation.
MAY 12, 1960 — On this day, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra League was founded by a group of passionate leaders whose dedication and volunteerism played a vital role in elevating our hometown orchestra to national renown. We gratefully acknowledge these visionaries for their decades of service.
Y Z Y Z
KEN-DAVID MASUR
Music Director
Polly and Bill Van Dyke
Music Director Chair
EDO DE WAART
Music Director Laureate
BYRON STRIPLING
Principal Pops Conductor
Stein Family Foundation
Principal Pops Conductor Chair
RYAN TANI
Assistant Conductor
CHERYL FRAZES HILL
Chorus Director
Margaret Hawkins Chorus Director Chair
TIMOTHY J. BENSON
Assistant Chorus Director
FIRST VIOLINS
Jinwoo Lee, Concertmaster, Charles and Marie Caestecker Concertmaster Chair
Ilana Setapen, First Associate Concertmaster, Thora M. Vervoren First Associate Concertmaster Chair
Jeanyi Kim, Associate Concertmaster
Alexander Ayers
Autumn Chodorowski
Yuka Kadota
Sheena Lan**
Elliot Lee**
Dylana Leung
Kyung Ah Oh
Lijia Phang
Yuanhui Fiona Zheng
SECOND VIOLINS
Jennifer Startt, Principal, Andrea and Woodrow Leung Second Violin Chair
Ji-Yeon Lee, Assistant Principal (2nd chair)
John Bian, Assistant Principal (3rd chair)*
Hyewon Kim, Acting Assistant Principal (3rd chair)
Glenn Asch
Lisa Johnson Fuller
Clay Hancock
Paul Hauer
Janis Sakai**
Mary Terranova
VIOLAS
Robert Levine, Principal, Richard O. and Judith A. Wagner Family Principal Viola Chair
Samantha Rodriguez, Acting Assistant Principal (2nd chair), Friends of Janet F. Ruggeri Viola Chair
Alejandro Duque, Acting Assistant Principal (3rd chair)
Elizabeth Breslin
Georgi Dimitrov
Nathan Hackett
Erin H. Pipal
CELLOS
Susan Babini, Principal, Dorothea C. Mayer Cello Chair
Shinae Ra, Assistant Principal (2nd chair)
Scott Tisdel, Associate Principal Emeritus
Madeleine Kabat
Peter Szczepanek
Peter J. Thomas
Adrien Zitoun
BASSES
Principal, Donald B. Abert Bass Chair
Andrew Raciti, Acting Principal
Nash Tomey, Acting Assistant Principal (2nd chair)
Brittany Conrad
Omar Haffar**
Paris Myers
HARP
Julia Coronelli, Principal, Walter Schroeder Harp Chair
FLUTES
Sonora Slocum, Principal, Margaret and Roy Butter Flute Chair
Heather Zinninger, Assistant Principal
Jennifer Bouton Schaub
PICCOLO
Jennifer Bouton Schaub
OBOES
Katherine Young Steele, Principal, Milwaukee Symphony League Oboe Chair
Kevin Pearl, Assistant Principal
Margaret Butler
ENGLISH HORN
Margaret Butler, Philip and Beatrice Blank English Horn Chair in memoriam to John Martin
