JOSEPH DEL RASO HAS BEEN ELECTED CHAIRMAN
Philadelphia, PA (March 13, 2018)—The Philly POPS announced today that Joseph (Joe) Del Raso has been elected Chairman and Anthony (Tony) Ricci elected Vice Chairman of the Encore Series, Inc. Board, presenter of the Philly POPS. Joe and Tony were elected Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively, on March 12, 2018. Joe was previously Vice Chairman.
“Joe and Tony have been key supporters of The Philly POPS as we’ve grown in recent years,” said Frank Giordano, President and CEO of the Philly POPS. “I’m grateful to have them leading our Board and look forward to continued growth and success with them at the helm.”
Del Raso, of Devon, is a partner in the Commercial Department of Pepper Hamilton LLP. Mr. Del Raso leads the firm’s Investment Management Practice Group and is chair of the firm’s Italian Desk and a practice leader for mutual funds of the firm’s Funds Services Practice Group. He is a past member of Pepper’s Executive Committee. Del Raso has twice testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee. He started his legal career as an attorney/adviser in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Investment Management. He’s a past Chairman of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and has served on the Encore Series, Inc. Board Since 2013.
“I’m honored and excited about stepping into the role of Chairman of this important organization,” said Joe Del Raso. “I’ve enjoyed being part of the recent success at the POPS and look forward to continuing on that trajectory.”
Tony Ricci, of Philadelphia, is CEO of Greenwood Racing Inc., owners and operators of Parx Casino® and Parx Racing® in Bensalem, Bucks County. Prior to his appointment to CEO in 2012, Mr. Ricci was the Chief Financial Officer of the company for 18 years. Previously, he was Vice President and Corporate Controller of Commodore, a major computer manufacturer, and worked in the Accounting/Finance Department of SKF Industries, Inc. In his capacity as a former Director of Pennwood Racing, Inc., the general partner of the permit holders of Freehold Raceway and Garden State Park, Mr. Ricci has been qualified and licensed by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission and New Jersey Racing Commission. In 2006, he received a Key License from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
About the Philly POPS
The Philly POPS, the largest standalone pops orchestra in the United States, delights audiences with the inspired performance of American popular music. The POPS celebrates this distinctive musical heritage through an expanding repertoire of innovative concert presentations and a robust set of educational and engagement initiatives.
Now in its 39th season, the official POPS orchestra of Pennsylvania serves a consistently growing audience of over 150,000 annually. Music Director Michael Krajewski and the 65-piece Philly POPS orchestra keeps listeners tapping their toes to an impressive repertoire of songs from American traditions of music up through today’s chart toppers. The Philly POPS BIG Band, an 18-20 piece ensemble performing a rock and rhythm and blues repertoire , premiered in 2017 to enthusiastic response at the July 4 Welcome America Concert on the Parkway.
Outside the concert hall, Salute Series performances – including POPS on Independence on July 3 and the I’ll Be Home for Christmas: A Salute to the Military and First Responders concert – celebrate the American tradition of service around important national holidays; POPS in Schools enhances music education for Philadelphia School District students; and POPS Outside brings POPS music to local communities.
The Philly POPS performs as a founding resident company of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and at venues throughout the mid-Atlantic region.