ATKINS READS AT POPS

ATKINS READS AT POPS

 State Representative Cory Atkins, chairwoman of the Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development, read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas on Saturday, December 4 as a guest narrator at the Holiday Pops at Symphony Hall in Boston conducted by Keith Lockhart.

 “I was enraptured,” said Atkins.  “To be able to perform onstage with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops was a tremendous privilege.  The Boston Pops is a national treasure, and I am so proud that they call Massachusetts home.”

 Every December the Boston Pops performs the Holiday Pops at Symphony Hall.  As part of their performances, they invite guest narrators to read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmasaccompanied to music.  The Pops asked Atkins to be a guest narrator because of her position as Chair of the Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development.  Past guest narrators have included Governor Deval Patrick, Speaker Robert DeLeo, and local actors, celebrities, and television hosts.

 Founded in 1885, the Boston Pops has been presenting its special series of holiday concerts since 1973.  The Holiday Pops season takes place in Symphony Hall – specially decorated to evoke all the magic and charm of the season -- where Pops patrons sit at cabaret-style tables and order food and drink with family and friends, all while taking in the seasonal atmosphere of music and entertainment presented by the one and only Boston Pops.

 As chair of the Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development, Atkins promotes the arts and tourism throughout Massachusetts.  Tourism is the third largest revenue generating industry in the state.  The Arts and Culture sector in Massachusetts generates $1.2 billion every year through direct spending on goods and services, and the sector employs 14,000 part-time and full-time workers and 13,700 independent contractors.  Massachusetts also has a network of local cultural councils that reaches every town in the state.