Nassau Community College
Dean Karahalis is the founder of The Concert Pops of Long Island and serves as its conductor and music director. Dean Karahalis and The Concert Pops of Long Island will encase you in the music and fill the air with their intense energy.
Karahalis has performed with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, New York Lyric Opera, Goldovsky Opera and is Musical Director/ Founder of the New York Brass Choir. Dean Karahalis is an Artist-Clinician for the Conn/ Selmer Musical Instrument Company and has performed extensively as a guest conductor and soloist throughout the United States. Conducting highlights have included performances at the United States Figure Skating Championships, with the U.S. Air Force Band, Washington D.C. and at a Night at the Opera with Metropolitan Opera star Robert Merrill. Karahalis is a graduate of Mannes College of Music, B.M., Aaron Copland School of Music, C.U.N.Y., Queens College, M.A. and Hofstra University, P.D.
In 1992, Karahalis was appointed Conductor/Musical Director of The Eglevsky Ballet and has been musical consultant to both the Moscow Festival Ballet and Ballet de Bordeaux. The Concert Pops have performed throughout the east coast in their Pops Under the Stars series and appear regularly at concert venues in New York and Florida. Recent performances saw Karahalis and the Pops in performances with Kristin Chenoweth, Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Jr. and the New York Tenors. Other highlights are performances with Marvin Hamlisch, the Manhattan Rhythm Kings, Broadway’s Tommy Tune, Betty Buckley, Enzo Stuarti, Joel Grey, Idina Menzel, Linda Eder, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bernadette Peters, Nathan Gunn, Kelli O’Hara, Natalie Merchant, Mannheim Steamroller and Video Games Live. They have performed at benefit concerts for the American Cancer Society and the United Way.
In May 2012, Karahalis received the Presidential Award at Five Towns College where he teaches conducting to future musicians and music educators. On December 11, 2013, he received an Honorary Doctorate for his continued contributions to the Performing Arts. In addition, he conducts the Five Towns College Pops, and is an Adjunct Professor of Music at Nassau & Suffolk Community College. Karahalis is honored to be selected by S.C.M.E.A. to conduct the 2018 All County Music Festival. For more information on Dean Karahalis and The Concert Pops of Long Island, videos, music and concert dates, visit www.deankarahalis.com.
deankarahalis@gmail.com