Conductor Brent Havens and the orchestra will take the audience through 40 years of music from the King of Pop

Columbus Oh -- The music of Michael Jackson and performances by soul legend The Spinners, smooth-jazz star Chris Botti and regional act the Jazz Ambassadors will be featured during this year’s Picnic with the Pops summer concert series.

Picnic with the Pops features nationally known artists and a few local favorites performing outdoors with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Concerts begin at 8:15 p.m. and are held on the lawn of Chemical Abstract Service, 2540 Olentangy River Road, adjacent to the campus of The Ohio State University.

The schedule includes:

June 18 – The Jazz Ambassadors, the U.S. Army’s premier touring jazz orchestra. The internationally acclaimed organization travels thousands of miles each year to perform jazz concerts and carry a message of goodwill worldwide.

June 24 – “The Music of Michael Jackson.” Conductor Brent Havens and the orchestra will take the audience through 40 years of music from the King of Pop on the eve of the second the anniversary of his death. “The Music of Michael Jackson” will include hits from each era of his career, including “ABC,” “I’ll Be There,” “Beat It,” “Thriller,” “Rock with You” and “The Way You Make Me Feel.”

July 9 – Chris Botti. Since the release of his critically acclaimed album “When I Fall in Love,” Botti has become the largest-selling instrumental jazz artist in America with four No. 1 jazz albums as well numerous Grammy Awards.

July 23 – The Spinners. The current lineup features original members Bobby Smith, Henry Fambrough and Pervis Jackson as well as lead singer Charlton Washington and high tenor Harold “Spike” Bonhart. The Spinners and their five-piece band will join the orchestra for an evening of hits spanning their 40-year career, including “Working My Way Back to You,” “Rubberband Man” and “Games People Play.”

July 29-30 – The Ohio State University Marching Band. Billed as “the biggest tailgate party of the year,” the show will feature the band playing a variety of well-known tunes and a fireworks display.

There will also be three “Popcorn Pops” concerts for children ages 3 to 12. The themes of the concerts include: “American Salute” (June 24), “Beach Party” (July 8) and “Rock Around the World” (July 22).

For tickets and more information, call (614) 228-8600 or visit www.columbussymphony.com.