Flute

Flutist and Producer Pamela Whitman is internationally recognized for bringing together people and cultures through her visionary style of interdisciplinary music-making and peace-making. A descendent of great American poet Walt Whitman, Pamela earned her degree in Flute Performance from the University of Michigan. She has been the Principal Flutist of The Ocean City Pops Orchestra since 1989.

She performs classical, world music and original meditation music on a collection of rare flutes from around the world, incorporating multiple creative mediums and genres. The L. A. Xpress has described her concerts as “a unique blend of compassion, technique, style, cultural diversity and personality.”

Click here for more information on Pamela Whitman,

Oboe

Stephen Labiner, oboist for the Ocean City Pops for twenty-nine years, attended the Philadelphia Musical Academy where he studied with Stevens Hewitt. He was a fellow at Tanglewood where he studied with John Holmes and also studied with John DeLancie. He has played solo English Horn with the Detroit Symphony and Oboe and English Horn with the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra. Steve performs with the Reading Symphony, Delaware Symphony, Harrisburg Symphony and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. He has toured throughout the U.S. and Canada with the National Ballet of Canada and the Pennsylvania Ballet. He performed at the Eastern Music Festival and has played solo performances on Public Radio.

Stephen also performs with his wife, harpist Sophie Bruno Labiner. Stephen and Sophie love spending their spare time with their sons Jim and Jon and his family, particularly their granddaughter Ella, who never fails to put a smile on their faces.

Clarinet

Arne has a Bachelor of Music Degree with highest honors from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, as well as, a Masters in Music degree from Temple University. His list as professional instrumentalist includes summer seasons in Baltimore Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra. He has been Principal Clarinet for Philly Pops, Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet Company, Riverside Symphonia, and of course, Ocean City Pops.

Arne has been Music Director and Conductor for Swarthmore College Orchestra (1987-1997), Jenkintown Music School Chamber Orchestra (1978-87) and Old York Symphony Orchestra(1984-1996). He is a composer and his compositions are of great interest. Chorale and Capriccio for Band, Op.1 (1976) is among five of his works published by Shawnee Press, Inc. and they have been performed and recorded internationally. Of the twelve works listed, four have been commissioned for special events and are written to emphasize various special instruments.
Click here for more information on Arne Running.

Bassoon

A Pops member for over 15 years, Andrea’s other orchestral engagements include performances with the Little Orchestra Society, American Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony and the New York City Opera National Company. As a performer on Broadway, Andrea has played for the New York productions of West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, Fiddler on the Roof, Beauty and the Beast, Nine and Into the Woods. She held Principal Bassoon positions in Spain with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia and Opera Teatro Galicia as well as with the South Dakota Symphony. Andrea holds degrees from New England Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School.

She is on the faculties of Kean University, New Jersey City University and coaches chamber music for NJYS and Juilliard Pre-College. Andrea’s other interests include a passion for our historic resources and she recently earned the Certificate in Historic Preservation from Drew University.