Congratulations

Rachael Worby, music director and conductor of The Pasadena Pops, will receive a Red Carpet Award for her support of the performing arts in Los Angeles

The Women in Theatre will present her with a Red Carpet Award at a luncheon on Oct. 20 at The Castaway in Burbank. The event is held in honor of National Arts Awareness Month.

Award presenters will include director and choreographer Cate Caplin, actress Wendie Malick and singer Marianne Murphy.

The judging committee selected her to receive the award this year because she exemplifies the spirit of the mission of Women in Theatre, said Talmadge Ragan, president.

Worby has served as music director since 1999. Under her guidance, The Pasadena POPS has tripled the number of its performances from four to 12, with performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings throughout the summer at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge.

Worby has earned accolades for her expansion of The Pasadena POPS’ education programs.

These include: Let Music Ring, an intensive three-year program for underserved children at middle schools in Pasadena and Los Angeles County; Exploring Music at the Sycamores, a year-round program especially tailored for the boys at The Hathaway-Sycamores residential treatment center, and Side by Side by Symphony, a mentoring program for aspiring young musicians that provides a side-by-side rehearsal and performance experience with professional musicians.

For more information about The Pasadena Pops and its upcoming 2008 summer season, visit www.pasadenapops.org or call (626) 792-7677.