The New York Pops

The New York Pops was founded by Skitch Henderson in 1983 to give New York a permanent professional symphonic pops orchestra that would create greater public awareness and appreciation of America’s rich musical heritage. The orchestra is now the largest independent symphonic pops orchestra in the US and tours throughout the world, as well as performs free concerts in New York City parks through its Summermusic program. The New York Pops’ extensive education programs allow public schoolchildren to participate in numerous concert and music-making experiences: Salute to Music provides free instrumental lessons to more than 100 New York City junior high school students each year; Kids in the Balcony arranges for hundreds of children to attend all of The New York Pops’ concerts at Carnegie Hall; other education programs, such as Create a Symphony and Rhythm, Rhyme & Rap, teach skills such as composition, instrument building, percussion performance, and literacy. The New York Pops’ recordings include a recently reissued CD of the orchestra’s 1983 debut performance as well as From Berlin to Bernstein, The New York Pops Goes to the Movies, Christmas in the Country, Magical Moments from Great Musicals, and With A Song in My Heart—the Music of Richard Rodgers with Maureen McGovern.