The New York Pops
| The New York Pops | |
|---|---|
| Orchestra | |
 The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall | |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Principal conductor | Steven Reineke |
| Website |
www |
The New York Pops is the largest independent pops orchestra in the United States, and the only professional symphonic orchestra in New York City specializing in popular music. Led by Music Director Steven Reineke, the orchestra performs an annual subscription series and birthday gala at Carnegie Hall, enjoying one of their highest subscription renewal rates. The New York Pops annual birthday gala is celebrated each spring, raising funds for the orchestra and its PopsEd programs.
The New York Pops celebrates the diversity of popular music's evolving songbook. Every concert is a unique experience, with influences ranging from Broadway melodies to film scores, jazz, rock, pop, and everything in between. The orchestra collaborates with stars from the stage and screen, such as Tony Bennett, Michael Feinstein, Megan Hilty, Idina Menzel, Kelli O'Hara, Miss Piggy, Pink Martini, John Pizzarelli, and many more. Under the leadership of dynamic Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, The New York Pops continues to re-imagine orchestral pops music.
The New York Pops is dedicated to lifelong learning, and collaborates with public schools, community organizations, children’s hospitals and senior centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City. PopsEd allows thousands of New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds to participate in fully customizable music programs that blend traditional education with pure fun. We make music open to all, and use tools like composition, lyric writing, performance and mentorship to foster learning and unbridled creativity. In doing so, we excite students and give them skills they can apply to all areas of their lives.
The New York Pops is committed to creating access for all members of the community. Thousands of children and their parents have the opportunity to see The New York Pops during interactive and educational family concerts in partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. The orchestra has toured throughout the world. Past media projects include the Macy’s 4 July Fireworks Spectacular on NBC Television, a nationally syndicated radio series and performances on PBS. The orchestra’s discography includes recordings of popular standards, theater and film scores, and music for the holidays.
The New York Pops was founded by Skitch Henderson in 1983 with a mission to create greater public awareness and appreciation of America's rich musical heritage through presentation of concerts and education programs of the highest quality. The New York Pops is a non-profit organization supported solely through the generosity of individual donations, institutional grants, corporate sponsorships, and concert income.
Musical fare
American pop standards and other well-known material from the Great American Songbook, including works by Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Sondheim, John Williams.
Guest artists
Past guest performers include Tony Bennett, Laura Benanti, Wayne Brady, Carol Channing, Michael Feinstein, Marvin Hamlisch, Cheyenne Jackson, Jerry Lewis, Reba McEntire, Liza Minnelli, Bebe Neuwirth, Kelli O’Hara, Andrew Rannells, Lea Salonga, Doc Severinsen, Elaine Stritch, and Elmo.
Education
The New York Pops is dedicated to lifelong learning, and collaborates with public schools, community organizations, children’s hospitals and senior centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City. PopsEd allows thousands of New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds to participate in fully customizable music programs that blend traditional education with pure fun. PopsEd makes music open to all, and uses tools like composition, lyric writing, performance and mentorship to foster learning and unbridled creativity. In doing so, these programs excite students and give them skills they can apply to all areas of their lives.
PopsEd programs serve thousands of children every year. Since the inception of the first education programs in 1990, more than 60,000 children have been touched by the magic of music through PopsEd. One of the goals of PopsEd is to provide children with the opportunities to be inspired by music and to ultimately foster a lifelong passion for the arts. The New York Pops provides children with free music lessons, free admission to rehearsals and concerts, and free classroom programs designed to spark the creative potential within every child.
Kids in the Balcony
Kids in the Balcony is a concert-going experience that provides tickets to 100 students for each New York Pops subscription concert at Carnegie Hall. PopsEd Teaching Artists conduct pre-concert and post-concert visits to teach students about the orchestra and connect content of the particular performance to general elements of musical knowledge.
Each subscription concert is dedicated to one of the five Borough-Wide Band and Orchestra programs, a series of ensembles for middle school students offered through the NYC Department of Education. At The New York Pops annual Birthday Gala, over 830 tickets are provided to students in grades 3-12 from both partner and additional schools across the five boroughs.
Kids On Stage
In collaboration with the NYC Department of Education’s Borough-Wide Band and Orchestra program, KIDS ON STAGE allows middle school students the opportunity to experience the professional performance process from the first audition to the final note.
Lesson-Based Residencies
Lesson-Based Residencies allow professional musicians to work directly with a school's existing band, orchestra, or choir through small group sectionals and/or large group rehearsals by focusing on instrument technique as well as theoretical and stylistic elements of music. PopsEd also helps build in-school or after-school music programs such as a chorus or guitar ensemble.
Creativity/Composition-Based Residencies
Using contemporary "street percussion" or traditional musical instruments, Creativity/Composition-Based Residencies provide students with an immediate means to express themselves through the composition and performance of their own original music. A variety of literary and core curriculum concepts – such as rhyming, mathematics, history, and creative writing – are taught and used in conjunction with basic musical and lyrical techniques.
Concert-Based Residencies
The Concert-Based Residencies are produced in public schools, community centers, hospitals, and senior centers. The series uses a variety of genres and styles of music to create interactive and entertaining experiences outside of the concert hall. It is customizable in size of ensemble, theme, and number of concerts.
Performance Highlights
Carnegie Hall
April 8, 1983 through 2012-2013 Season, a total of 261 concerts in Carnegie Hall
Television
Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular, NBC nationwide – 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005
Tours
Southeast United States: Virginia – 2005, Florida & South Carolina – 1997, 1995, 1993, 1989
Asia: Osaka and Tokyo, Japan – New Year's 1999, 1997, 1995, 1993, 1991 & Seoul, Korea – 1995
Midwest United States: Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa – March 1993
Outdoor Concerts
Central Park SummerStage – 2009-2012, 2004, 2002
Bryant Park – 2006, 2005, 2004
Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center, New York City – 2003, 1995–2001
Historic Battery Park, Downtown River to River Festival – July 5, 2002
World Trade Center – 2001, OpSail 2000
Celebrate Brooklyn!, Prospect Park – 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998
Central Park SummerStage – 2004, 2002
Snug Harbor, Staten Island – 2001, 2000, 1999
Eisenhower Park, Long Island – July 3, 2004
PNC Bank Arts Center, New Jersey – August 3, 2004
Caramoor International Music Festival – June 30, 2002
Charles Ives Center, Danbury, CT – 2002, 2001, 1996, 1995
Brookhaven Amphitheater, Long Island – 2000, 1999
New York City 100 Centennial Concert on Central Park’s Great Lawn – July 10, 1998
OpSail '92/Columbus Quincentennial, South Street Seaport, New York City – July 4, 1992
Columbus Avenue Festival, New York City – September 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988
"Welcome Home the Troops" Celebration, South Street Seaport, New York City – June 10, 1991
New York Daily News Blimp Race, Jones Beach State Park, New York – July 5, 1986
Single Engagements
Cantor Fitzgerald Memorial Service, Central Park SummerStage – September 11, 2011
Coca-Cola on Liberty Island, Liberty Island, NY – May 7, 2011
The New York Pops and Mark Nadler, The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA – September 22, 2010
Yankee Stadium – National Anthem performed by The New York Pops Brass – October 7, 2009
Yankee Stadium – National Anthem performed by The New York Pops Brass – April 17, 2008
Ken Lavigne in Concert - Carnegie Hall, New York City - January 22, 2009
Skitch Henderson: A Man and His Music – Carnegie Hall, New York City – February 6, 2006
Ferguson Center for the Arts Grand Opening, Newport News, Virginia – September 12, 2005
New York City Republican National Convention Host Committee Concert – September 1, 2004
Yankee Stadium – National Anthem performed by The New York Pops Brass – June 29, 2004
Russell Watson-The Voice with Lea Salonga and Hayley Westenra, Carnegie Hall – June 1, 2002
U.S. Military Academy, Eisenhower Hall, West Point, New York – December 2001, May 1990
Inaugural Reception for The Centennial of Greater New York, Gracie Mansion – September 8, 1999
Unilever United States Dinner, Natural History Museum, New York City – March 18, 1999
Walter Cronkite Tribute, Waldorf-Astoria, New York City – February 17, 1999
150th Anniversary of New York Life, Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center – July 2, 1995
Newport Centre Christmas Celebration, Jersey City, New Jersey – December 1989, 1988, 1987
World Financial Center Dedication Ceremony, New York City – October 1988
"I Love New York", Apollo Theatre, New York City – October 1987
"Harlem Week" with Cab Calloway, Apollo Theatre, New York City – August 1986
Benefit Concerts
Ronald McDonald House and The New York Pops Joint Benefit Concerts, 54 Below, 2013; Feinstein’s at Loews Regency – 2010-2012
Free to Dream: The Songs of Katsaros and Schermerhorn, Joe’s Pub – August 2, 2010
Young People's Chorus of New York City: Shaping Lives Through Music, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center - March 13, 2009
Lauri Strauss Leukemia Foundation Benefit Concerts, Carnegie Hall – 1992-2008
Young People’s Chorus of New York City: A Decade of Dreams, Carnegie Hall – October 22, 2007
Seeds of Peace to benefit camp for teenagers from war-torn countries, Carnegie Hall – May 22, 2000
Tilles Center Gala XI to benefit Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, Brookville, New York – October 1991