Show artwork for The Billy Joel Songbook
PNC Pops

The Billy Joel Songbook

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The Billy Joel Songbook

Friday, November 21—Sunday, November 23, 2025

Friday, November 21—Sunday, November 23, 2025
Orchestra Hall
2 hours
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Join the DSO and vocalist-pianist Tony DeSare for a symphonic celebration of Billy Joel’s most iconic hits. With DeSare’s signature vocals and dynamic piano style, experience the legendary songs of the Piano Man like never before—brought to life with full orchestral arrangements conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez. Hear favorites including “Only the Good Die Young,” “Just the Way You Are,” “Piano Man,” “New York State of Mind,” “You May Be Right,” “Movin’ Out,” “My Life,” “Don’t Ask Me Why,” and more in this unforgettable tribute to one of music’s greatest storytellers.

Please note: Billy Joel Does not appear on this program. 

Artists

Enrico Lopez-Yañez

conductor

Enrico Lopez-Yañez is the Principal Pops Conductor of the Detroit, Nashville, and Pacific Symphonies as well as the Principal Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Presents and Principal Guest Conductor for Pops of the Indianapolis Symphony. Lopez-Yañez has quickly established himself as one of the Nation’s leading conductors of popular music and become known for his unique style of audience engagement. Also an active composer/arranger, he has been commissioned by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Houston Symphony, San Diego Symphony and Omaha Symphony, and has had his works performed by orchestras including the Atlanta Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, National Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and Utah Symphony among others.

Lopez-Yañez has conducted concerts with a broad spectrum of artists including: Nas, Patti LaBelle, Itzhak Perlman, Trisha Yearwood, Kenny Loggins, Stewart Copeland, Kelsea Ballerini, Leslie Odom Jr., Renee Elise Goldsberry, Portugal The Man, Ben Rector, Cody Fry, Hanson, The Beach Boys, Kenny G and more. Each year Lopez-Yañez conducts the annual Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th fireworks show which is televised annually on CMT reaching millions of viewers across the nation.

This season Lopez-Yañez will collaborate with artists including Dolly Parton, Bernadette Peters, Lyle Lovett, War & Treaty, Ben Folds, Indigo Girls, Joss Stone, Girl Named Tom, Lettuce, and Tower of Power. He will appear with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony, Toronto Symphony as well as make return appearances with the Baltimore Symphony, Houston Symphony, National Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony and more. Previously, Lopez-Yañez has appeared with orchestras throughout North America including the Cincinnati Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, and the San Francisco Symphony among others.

Lopez-Yañez was the recipient of the 2023 “Mexicanos Distinguidos” Award by the Mexican government, an award granted to Mexican citizens living abroad for outstanding career accomplishments in their field. As an advocate for Latin music, he has arranged and produced shows for Latin Fire, Mariachi Los Camperos, The Three Mexican Tenors, and collaborated with artists including Aida Cuevas, Arturo Sandoval and Lila Downs.

As Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Symphonica Productions, LLC, Lopez-Yañez curates and leads programs designed to cultivate new audiences. Symphonica’s show offerings range from Pops shows to Family and Education productions which have been described as “incredibly special – and something that needs to become the new norm” (Lima Symphony). Symphonica’s productions have been performed by major orchestra across North America including the Baltimore Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Tucson Symphony and many more.

As a producer, composer, and arranger, Lopez-Yañez’s work can be heard on numerous albums including the UNESCO benefit album Action Moves People United and children’s music albums including The Spaceship that Fell in My Backyard, winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Hollywood Music and Media Awards, Family Choice Awards and Kokowanda Bay, winner of a Global Media Award as well as a Parents’ Choice Award where Lopez-Yañez was lauded for his “catchy arrangements” (Parents’ Choice Foundation).

Tony DeSare

Tony DeSare performs with infectious joy, wry playfulness, and robust musicality. Named a “Rising Star Male Vocalist” in DownBeat magazine, DeSare has garnered critical and popular acclaim for his concert performances throughout North America and abroad. From jazz clubs to Carnegie Hall to Las Vegas headlining with Don Rickles and major symphony orchestras, DeSare has brought his fresh take on old-school class around the globe. DeSare has four top ten Billboard jazz albums and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, NPR, A Prairie Home Companion, and the Today Show. His music has been posted by social media celebrity juggernaut, George Takei, and DeSare has also collaborated with YouTube icons Postmodern Jukebox.

DeSare's "Lush Life" recording debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Chart and he released Song Diaries Vol. 2 in early 2022. His latest single "Paris Always Will Have You" was released in early 2024 and is available on all streaming platforms.

Beyond his well-regarded turns as a singer/pianist, DeSare is also an accomplished composer. He not only won first place in the USA Songwriting Contest but has written the theme song for the motion picture My Date with Drew, several broadcast commercials, and has composed the full soundtracks for the Hallmark Channel's Love Always, Santa, Lifetime's Nanny Nightmare and A Welcome Home Christmas. His sound is romantic, swinging, and sensual, but what sets DeSare apart is his ability to write original material that sounds fresh and contemporary while paying homage to the Great American Songbook. His compositions include a wide range of tender, funny, and soulful sounds that can be found on his top-selling recordings.

DeSare’s forthcoming appearances include The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, Minnesota Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

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