Holiday Pops Extravaganza

Performers

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  Macomb Symphony Orchestra
  

  Macomb Symphony Orchestra
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  Andrew Neer Conductor
  

  Andrew Neer

  Conductor

  American conductor, Andrew Neer, was born in Tucker, Georgia and currently resides in Grosse Pointe, Michigan with his wife, Mary Lynn. He is quickly becoming known for his dynamic and expressive conducting style. His focus has been to educate and expand appreciation of music. He believes that at the heart of everything, music is the soul of America and provides transformative experiences for those performing and participating in the audience.

  Living in Michigan for most of his life, he is thrilled to join the Macomb Symphony Orchestra family. He attended Central Michigan University (CMU) studying Composition, Trumpet and Music Theatre Performance. Following his time at CMU, he obtained two Master of Music degrees in Composition and Conducting, respectively, from Wayne State University, Detroit MI. His composition experience ranges from that of the art song to film scores.

  In the summer 2013, he was invited to conduct Verdi’s La Traviata for Michigan Opera Theatre’s community programs, receiving high acclaim. In early 2016, he embarked on an international conducting career, appearing with orchestras in Romania and Bulgaria. He is honored to study privately with orchestral conductor & mentor Kenneth Kiesler. In 2023, Andrew completed Doctoral Studies in Orchestral Conducting at the world-renown University of Michigan. In addition to working with orchestras, Mr. Neer has been honored to lead choruses and conduct operas in and around Metropolitan Detroit.

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  Amber Rogers Soprano
  

  Amber Rogers

  Soprano

  A Washington DC native, Amber Rogers is quickly becoming a highly coveted soprano voice. After covering Elvira in Music Academy of the West’s production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Amber will head to Metro-Detroit for the 2025-2026 season as the Artist in Residence for the Macomb Symphony where she will sing the world premieres and This past May Amber was asked to sing in the Gateways Music Festival tour where she sang recitals at the Eastman School of Music and Carnegie Hall. She recently completed her Master’s degree at the University of Michigan (UofM) studying with Caitlin Lynch and Dr. Louise Toppin. Amber completed her undergraduate studies at Oberlin Conservatory where she studied with Timothy LeFevbre and Marlene Rosen.

  At UofM, Amber sang Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel, and Fiordiligi from Mozart’s Così fan Tutte, each directed by Metropolitan Opera visionary, Gregory Keller. Prior to these, she also presented a hilarious Nella in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi directed by Mo Zhou and conducted by Kirk Severston.

  <p?Amber was a Finalist in the 2023 University of Michigan Concerto Competition, was named the 2024 National Scholarship Winner for the NANM competition, as well as winning first place in the 2024 George Shirley competition college division.