Mayfair native Na’Zir McFadden will be conducting the No Name Pops as the group presents A Philly Holiday Spectacular, an afternoon of festive music and holiday cheer, taking place on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. at Marian Anderson Hall, Kimmel Cultural Campus, 300 S. Broad St.
Santa Claus will be making an appearance. Tickets are priced from $51 to $121 and available at www.nonamepops.org.
“I hope to see as many Philadelphians in the house as possible,” McFadden said.
McFadden, 24, serves as assistant conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He is in his third and final season in that role, leaving at the end of the season in August to pursue other conducting opportunities.
“It’s a dream job. I’m grateful to have been here three seasons,” he said. “It’s definitely something I want to continue doing.”
McFadden is a graduate of Disston Elementary School and Abraham Lincoln High School. At a young age, he learned to love music at Settlement Music School and at Disston, crediting Disston’s Amanda Fekete Kim and Josh Anderson for teaching him the clarinet and welcoming him to the band.
“I always knew I wanted to be a musician,” he said.
McFadden has come a long way in the music industry, performing and conducting in numerous states and countries.
“I love being busy. It keeps me on my toes,” he said.
McFadden is looking forward to conducting the No Name Pops at the holiday show and is already in town conducting portions of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, presented by the Philadelphia Ballet.
“It’s very exciting. It’s nice to come back to a place I grew up in. It’s a full-circle moment,” he said. “It’s truly a Philly homecoming.” ••
