INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — May Pops, now celebrating its 24th year, is among the most anticipated of the season’s big fundraisers, an elegant concert event on the broad green polo grounds of Windsor. The always memorable family afternoon is a benefit for the Indian River Medical Center Foundation.
Over the years, May Pops has raised many millions for the cause, literally changing the face of medicine in Indian River County, to support technological advances and facility improvements.
Toward the north end of the vast field, a low white picket fence delineates the VIP area, where long rows of white tents, each with round pastel-clothed table and comfy chairs, offered respite from the warm afternoon sun.
To the south, in the grassy expanse outside the fence, hundreds of general admission concertgoers spread their own picnics, placed baskets and coolers, greeted friends, and wrangled little kids, who, with a variety of balls and hula hoops, headed off to enjoy the acres of beckoning field stretched around them.
As they had since the beginning, Helen and Dick Post were this year’s Presenting Sponsors. Post took a quick, last minute golf-cart lap of the stage and tent area to ensure all was in place. All was. He was smiling, pleased especially that the Sunday afternoon weather was pretty close to perfect.
“I’ve seen medicine here in Indian River County change so dramatically over the years. We have the great cardiac care, and we’re working on cancer,” Post said, acknowledging his and his wife Helen’s almost quarter-century of dedication to this event and the cause it supports. “I was golfing with a pal and he said, you know, there’s two main areas you have to cover – heart and cancer – then you should be OK.’ Well,” Post added with a grin, “you could get hit by a car but, otherwise. . . . .”
There are good physicians here, he said, good facilities. “This is a good place to be!”
In the VIP reception tent, an elegant afternoon repast had been prepared by award-winning Chef Joe Faria and the talented and attentive Quail Valley Golf Club Staff.
“It’s good to be back at Windsor,” Faria said, watching as his highly organized staff went about their final preparations.
The delectable bounty was presented with such artistry as to give one pause – whether to grab a camera – or a fork?
Ice sculptures enhanced each presentation, and as the guests entered the area, they paused and pointed as they moved from one beautiful display to the next.
Soon the tent filled with people and conversation, blending with the soft melodies of a youthful string quartet, the Stringsations, playing nearby.
Joan and Al DeCrane, Sound Sponsors, greeted tablemates Diana and Dick Starke. Recalling the rain that threatened earlier in the week, Joan noted, “I starting praying for good weather on Wednesday.”
The entertainment theme this year was “The Best of Broadway,” and featured the Brevard Symphony Orchestra under the baton of its music director and principal conductor, the engaging Christopher Confessore.
Featured soloist was Broadway star Hugh Panaro, currently appearing on Broadway in the title role in Phantom of the Opera.
Confessore opened the concert with his energetic rendition of Fiesta Mexicana (portions of which many concertgoers quickly recognized as The Mexican Hat Dance.)
Panaro’s opening song was Cole Porter’s Begin the Beguine, which nicely showcased his powerful pipes.
“I am just blown away by the Brevard Symphony Orchestra,” Panaro told the audience. “And it is really nice not to be wearing the phantom mask.”
Selections from West Side Story, The Music Man, Cabaret, Les Miserables, filled the orchestral and vocal program and the finale was – no surprise – the haunting and powerful The Music of the Night from Phantom.
As the sun softened and the music played on, the festivities of the evening bespoke the continuing support for the event’s very serious mission and its next goal. The IRMC Foundation has established its highest fundraising priority as $30 million for the development and implementation of a comprehensive community cancer program for Indian River Medical Center, as well as support for endowment.
