| Boston Pops | |
|---|---|
| Orchestra | |
 | |
| Short name | Boston Pops |
| Founded | 1885; 140 years ago (1885) |
| Location | Boston, United States |
| Concert hall | Symphony Hall |
| Principal conductor | Keith Lockhart |
| Website | www |
TheBoston Pops is an American orchestra based inBoston,Massachusetts, specializing inlight classical andpopular music. The orchestra's current music director isKeith Lockhart.
Founded in 1885 as an offshoot of theBoston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), the Boston Pops primarily consists of musicians from the BSO, although generally not all of the first-chair players.[1] The orchestra performs a spring season of popular music and aholiday program in December. For the Pops, the seating on the floor ofSymphony Hall is reconfigured from auditorium seating to banquet and cafe seating. The Pops also plays an annual concert at theHatch Memorial Shell on theEsplanade everyFourth of July. Their performances ofTchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" andSousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever" are famous forhowitzer cannons firing and fireworks exploding during the former and the unfurling of theAmerican flag that occurs near the end of the latter. Identified with its longtime directorArthur Fiedler, the orchestra has recorded extensively, made frequent tours, and appeared often on television.
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In 1881,Henry Lee Higginson, the founder of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, wrote of his wish to present in Boston "concerts of a lighter kind of music". The Boston Pops Orchestra was founded to present this kind of music to the public, with the first concert performed on July 11, 1885, under the leadership ofAdolf Neuendorff. Called the "Promenade Concerts" until 1900, these performances combined lightclassical music, tunes from the current hits of the musical theater, and an occasional novelty number. Allowing for some changes of taste over the course of a century, the early programs were remarkably similar to the Boston Pops programs of today.
The Boston Pops had seventeen conductors before 1930, whenArthur Fiedler began a fifty-year tenure as the first American-born conductor to lead the orchestra. Under Fiedler's direction, the orchestra's popularity spread far beyond Boston through recordings, radio and television. Unhappy with the reputation of classical music as being solely for affluent concertgoers, Fiedler made efforts to bring classical music to a wider audience. He instituted a series of free concerts at the Hatch Shell on theEsplanade, a public park beside theCharles River. Fiedler insisted that the Pops Orchestra play popular music as well as well-known classical pieces, opening up a new niche of popular symphonic music. Of the many musical pieces created for the orchestra, the Pops' most identifiable works were the colorful novelty numbers composed by Fiedler's close friendLeroy Anderson, including "Sleigh Ride", "The Typewriter", "The Syncopated Clock" and several others. Fiedler also initiated the annual Holiday Pops concerts in December.
Under Fiedler's direction, the Boston Pops has sold more commercial recordings than any other orchestra in the world, with total sales of albums, singles, tapes, and cassettes exceeding $50 million.[citation needed] The orchestra's first recordings were made in July 1935 forRCA Victor, including the first complete recording ofGeorge Gershwin'sRhapsody in Blue. The Pops made their first high-fidelity recording on June 20, 1947, ofGaîté Parisienne (based on the music ofJacques Offenbach), and recorded the same music seven years later in stereophonic sound, their first venture in multitrack recording.
Fiedler is also credited with having begun the annual tradition of the Fourth of July Pops concert and fireworks display on the Esplanade, one of the best-attended Independence Day celebrations in the country with estimated crowds of 200,000–500,000 people. Also during Fiedler's tenure, the Pops and localpublic television stationWGBH developed a series of weekly televised broadcasts,Evening at Pops, recorded during the Pops' regular season in Symphony Hall.
Some shows have holiday–oriented themes, such as Christmas shows featuring performers such asJonathan Meath, who appeared as Santa with the Boston Pops for ten shows during 2008–2009.[2]
After Fiedler's death in 1979, he was succeeded as conductor of the Boston Pops by the noted film composerJohn Williams. Williams continued the Pops' tradition of bringing classical music to a wide audience, initiating the annual "Pops-on-the-Heights" concerts atBoston College and adding his own library of well-knownfilm scores (includingStar Wars andIndiana Jones) to the orchestra's repertoire. During his time with the Pops, Williams performed withSammy Davis Jr. as one of the artists for one of the Evening at Pops specials that aired in 1988. In 1991, the orchestra playedBill Monroe'sUncle Pen and otherbluegrass classics withRicky Skaggs and the Kentucky Thunder.[3][4]In 1992, Williams conducted a memorable performance of the Pops featuring Broadway IconJohn Raitt and his daughter Grammy winnerBonnie Raitt along with members of her Band.
Keith Lockhart assumed the post of principal Pops conductor in 1995. Lockhart continues to conduct the Boston Pops today. Williams is Laureate Conductor of the Pops and conducts the Pops at Symphony Hall andTanglewood.
Lockhart has brought in numerous pop-music acts and icons in addition toBroadway greats (the likes ofIdina Menzel,Kristin Chenoweth andSutton Foster performed with the orchestra throughout Lockhart's first 25 years there) to play with the orchestra since being named conductor, includingBen Folds,Rockapella,Guster,My Morning Jacket,Aimee Mann,Kelly Clarkson, andElvis Costello.
Glee starMatthew Morrison performed with the orchestra.
The 2014 Spring Season was announced towards the end of February 2014, with the title "The Very Best of the Boston Pops".
Opening Night was Wednesday, May 7 at 8 pm, and the orchestra opened with "The Very Best of the Boston Pops withJason Alexander", conducted by Keith Lockhart.
"The Very Best of the Boston Pops" was conducted by Lockhart and performed on select nights throughout the season, giving audiences both a chance to see what the orchestra was capable of performing (given the various selections from their vast library of compositions) as well as the opportunity to select which dates worked best for them. These performances were given on Thursday, May 8, Friday, May 9, Tuesday, May 27th (Arthur Fiedler Night 2014), and Friday, June 13.
During the 2015 Pops Spring Season, the orchestra worked withBernadette Peters (who opened the spring season that year), The Midtown Men, andAudra McDonald. In 2015, the film that was chosen for the "Film with Orchestra" series wasSingin' In The Rain. The orchestra also had tributes throughout the season: two nights of the orchestra playing the music ofThe Beatles; the ever-popular "John Williams Film Night"; aCeltic sojourn hosted by Brian O'Donnovan withCarlos Núñez andKaran Casey as the special guests; the ever-popular "Gospel Night at Pops" conducted byCharles Floyd featuringThe Blind Boys of Alabama; the return of "Cirque de la Symphonie" featuring Cirque du Soleil performers; and ending with Simply Sondheim, featuringMarin Mazzie,Jason Danieley and the Tanglewood Music Center Fellows as special guests.
During the 2017 Pops Spring Season, the orchestra had its first season-long tribute to a composer, that composer being John Williams. They recorded a new CD,Lights, Camera, Music: Six Decades of John Williams, which was released during the season. The orchestra had two pre-season events which marked the first time the orchestra had ever used Symphony Hall before May: "Celebrating John Williams!" and "E.T. in Concert". The Pops opened the season withQueen Latifah, and went on to host such events as "Mamma Mia! Mother's Day with the Music ofABBA", working with Ben Folds, "Gospel Night" in its 25th anniversary with Floyd and the Boston Pops Gospel Choir;Leslie Odom Jr. in his orchestral debut after starring inHamilton: An American Musical; performing a tribute toThe Beatles with Larry "Cha-Chi" Loprete as the host; "Parting withThe B-52s", and giving the world-premiere ofSondheim on Sondheim with Philip Boykin, Carmen Cusak,Gabriel Ebert, andLisa Howard as the vocalists.
The 2018 Spring Season was announced on Monday, February 26, 2018, and featured a season-long celebration and tribute toLeonard Bernstein's centennial.
During the 2018 Pops Spring season, the orchestra worked with both Leslie Odom Jr. andAndy Grammer (who was the Opening Night headliner) for the second time after successful Fourth of July performances, as well asSutton Foster again, who performed "A Broadway Celebration" with the orchestra. Some highlights of the season were the return of Laureate Conductor and legendary film composer John Williams for his annual "Film Night" appearances, in addition to an Opening Night salute toLeonard Bernstein for the occasion of Bernstein's centennial later that year. In addition to celebrating Bernstein's centennial, the orchestra presented concert versions of bothOn The Town and "West Side Story In Concert". They "Danced to the Movies", and were joined by tenorAlfie Boe who "Rocked the Pops" with them. The Pops were joined byAshley Brown,Josh Strickland, Alton Fitzgerald White andMerle Dandridge to perform beloved songs from 9Tony Award-winning andAcademy Award-winning scores to "Disney's Broadway Hits". The orchestra also performed "The Best of the Boston Pops" Concerts, a series that hadn't been featured since 2013. The Pops performed their annual "Gospel Night" with the Boston Pops Gospel Choir and guest starMelinda Doolittle under the direction of Charles Floyd. The orchestra also welcomed back Leslie Odom Jr. with special guestsRenée Elise Goldsberry andPhillipa Soo for "An Evening with Leslie Odom Jr".
The 2019 Spring Season was announced on Monday, February 25, 2019, with the title "Boston Pops: It's A Party!"
Bernadette Peters was the Opening Night headliner, with the Pops performing a tribute to the 50th anniversary of theApollo 11 Moon Landing, the world premiere of "From The Earth to the Moon and Beyond", a piece by composer James Beckel. May 9 was the annual Presidents At Pops fundraising gala held every year.
The orchestra performed the score toStar Wars: A New Hope in its entirety, live to picture on May 10 and 11 (both the 3om matinee and the 8 pm concert), and 14.
The 2020 Spring Season was announced on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, with a special acknowledgement towards Lockhart's 25th anniversary as conductor. On April 8, the Boston Symphony Orchestra announced that their spring season would be postponed due to the globalCOVID-19 pandemic of early 2020–21.[5] Keith Lockhart reassured patrons that the 2020 Spring Season would be performed the following year, although it would now be marking his 26th anniversary as conductor.
Opening Night 2021 was Wednesday, May 5 at 8 pm and featured "An Evening with Penn & Teller", to be repeated on Thursday, May 6 at 8 pm.
The Boston-based groupGuster joined the orchestra on Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8 at 8 pm to continue their orchestral performances.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was shown Wednesday, May 12 at 8 pm, Thursday, May 13 at 8 pm, Saturday, May 15 at 3 pm and Saturday, May 22nd at 3 pm.
"Songs of America withJon Meacham" was the program for Tuesday, May 18 at 8 pm (alsoArthur Fiedler Night 2021) and Wednesday, May 19 at 8 pm. The Pops were joined by Meacham and theTanglewood Festival Chorus, under the direction ofJames Burton for the first two of their four appearances that spring.
"Ragtime In Concert" was the next performance, for Thursday, May 20 at 8 pm, and Friday, May 21st at 8 pm.
"The Wonderful World ofAlan Menken's Music" was the program for Wednesday, May 26 at 8 pm, Thursday May 27 at 8 pm, and Saturday, May 29 at 2 pm. The Pops were joined byBroadway actorsSierra Boggess,Telly Leung and Alton Fitzgerald White for these performances.
"Celebrating 25 with Keith!" was presented as special performances on Tuesday, June 1, Wednesday, June 2 and Thursday, June 3 all at 8 pm. The Pops special guests for the event wereMegan Hilty andJason Danieley.
"Danny Elfman's Music from the Films ofTim Burton" was performed on Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5, both at 8 pm. The Pops were conducted byTed Sperling and were supposed to be joined by theTanglewood Festival Chorus under the direction ofJames Burton, for the last two of their four appearances that spring.
"Star Wars: The Story in Music" was performed on Wednesday, June 9 at 8 pm.
"An Evening withAmanda Palmer,Neil Gaiman & The Boston Pops" was Thursday, June 10 and Friday, June 11, both at 8 pm. The Pops were joined by Palmer and Gaiman as special guests.
"Gospel Night" was Saturday, June 12 at 8 pm. The Pops were conducted by Charles Floyd, andSmokie Norful was the special guest.
The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is annually performed by the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra on the banks of theCharles River at the Esplanade (sometimes referred to by locals as the "Oval") of theHatch Memorial Shell inBoston, Massachusetts, everyFourth of July. It was made locally famous in 1974, during which local philanthropistDavid G. Mugar approached legendary Pops conductorArthur Fiedler about adding cannons and fireworks during the performance ofPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's famous "1812 Overture" as well as fireworks and confetti to endJohn Philip Sousa's march "The Stars and Stripes Forever". It was a success, and they repeated it in 1975 and 1976, when it was made nationally famous, and even earned a spot in the 1976Guinness World Records for having the largest audience for a classical concert since the book's founding in 1955. It's grown since the Bicentennial, and has earned a place in local traditions ever since.
The program was broadcast onWRCB (99.5 FM Boston) on the radio from 1974 to 2016, andBloomberg Radio from 2017 to present-day (2022), and was presented on television nationally (as "Pops Goes The Fourth") from 1993, 1995-2002 onA&E Network, 2002-2016 onCBS, and 2017-present-day (2022) onBloomberg; locally from 1984 and 1987 onWGBH-TV; 1988 as part of theEvening at Pops series onPBS; 1993-2001 onWCVB-TV Channel 5; 2002-2016 onWBZ-TV (Channel 4); 2017-present-day (2022) onWHDH (TV) (Channel 7) in Boston and the greater-Boston metro area.
For the 2002 Fireworks Spectacular, the orchestra performed withMaureen McGovern, who paid tribute to the centennial of legendary and iconicBroadway composerRichard Rodgers by performing "My Favorite Things" (fromThe Sound of Music), andBarry Manilow, who paid tribute to and acknowledged theSeptember 11 attacks when performing his 1976 hit "Weekend in New England."
For the 2005 Fireworks Spectacular, the orchestra performed withBig and Rich (who performed their hit "Love Train"),Gretchen Wilson, andCowboy Troy (who performed with Big and Rich for a new rendition of the Declaration of Independence), and highlighted their newest CDAmerica by performing "The Star-Spangled Banner", "Armed Forces Salute", "This Is My Country", "TheGettysburg Address" (narrated by then-WBZ-TV news anchorJack Williams), "Doodletown Fifers" (performed with theMiddlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums), "God Bless America", "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", the "Main Title" (fromRevenge of the Sith), Tchaikovsky's famous "1812 Overture", and Sousa's classic march, "The Stars and Stripes Forever".
For the 2006 Fireworks Spectacular, the orchestra performed withAerosmith, who performed "Dream On" and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing".American Idol contestantAyla Brown performed the national anthem.
For the 2008 Fireworks Spectacular, the orchestra performed withRascal Flatts, who performed "Life Is A Highway" and "Every Day".
For the 2009 Fireworks Spectacular, the orchestra performed withNeil Diamond, who performed "Sweet Caroline", "Forever in Blue Jeans", "Cracklin' Rosie", and "America".
During the 2010 Fireworks Spectacular, the orchestra celebrated its 125th season and theHatch Shell celebrated its 100th anniversary. The orchestra performed withToby Keith, who performed "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" and "American Soldier". They also performed with theTanglewood Festival Chorus, soprano Renese King (who sang "We the People" (the theme song forVisions of America), and they performed "The Dream Lives On: A Portrait of the Kennedy Brothers", with Lisa Hughes, Jack Williams, and local actors Jeremiah Kissel and Will LeBow. The Pops specifically commissioned the piece byPeter Boyer andLynn Ahrens to be used during their 125th season.
For the 2014 Fireworks Spectacular, the orchestra performed with actorsJulia Udine and Ben Jacoby from the 2014 U.S. touring production ofAndrew Lloyd Webber's musicalThe Phantom of the Opera, andThe Beach Boys, who performed "Fun, Fun, Fun", "Good Vibrations", and "Surfin' USA".
For the 2015 Fireworks Spectacular, Lockhart and the Pops performed withMichael Cavanaugh who sang some ofBilly Joel's classic songs, the Boston-based bandSons of Serendip, theBoston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps (who performed the entirety of their 2015 Field Show,Animal Farm; based onGeorge Orwell's 1945 novellaof the same name) and members of theUSO's Show Troupe.
For the 2016 Fireworks Spectacular, Lockhart and the Pops performed with pop starsDemi Lovato,Nick Jonas (both performing on their joint world tour theFuture Now Tour), andGrammy- andCMA-winning country music starsLittle Big Town who performed the national anthem. The 2016 Fireworks Spectacular also markedDavid Mugar's final Fireworks Spectacular show, which he produced for over 40 years.
In October 2016, the Boston Pops agreed to take over the management of the annual July Fourth fireworks concert on the Esplanade and to take on the responsibility for finding a corporate sponsor for the $2 million cost.[6] On March 7, 2017, it was announced thatEaton Vance andBloomberg L.P. had been signed on as sponsors of the concert under a three-year deal, and that the telecast of the event would move fromWBZ-TV/CBS toBloomberg Television.[7][8]
For the 2017 Fireworks Spectacular, Lockhart and the Pops performed with actorLeslie Odom Jr. (ofHamilton: An American Musical fame), 1990s pop singerMelissa Etheridge, and pop singerAndy Grammer, in addition to theUnited States Army Field Band's Concert Band and Soldiers' Chorus.
For the 2018 Fireworks Spectacular, the orchestra worked withRachel Platten,Rhiannon Giddens, theIndigo Girls, actressesRita Moreno andNatalie Cortez (who was about to open in the ensemble in the world premiere ofMoulin Rouge!, which debuted in Boston in October 2018 and later debuted on Broadway in 2019), and theTanglewood Festival Chorus under the direction ofJames Burton. In addition to Bloomberg nationwide, the show was carried byindependent stationWHDH (channel 7) locally over-the-air,[9] and online atBoston.com,BostonGlobe.com, bso.org (the Boston Symphony Orchestra's website), and on the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular app.
For the 2019 Fireworks Spectacular, Lockhart and the Pops paid tribute to the 50th anniversary ofWoodstock by performing both a medley of the Theme and "Pinball Wizard" fromThe Who'sTommy and a medley of "Aquarius" and "The Flesh Failures (Let The Sunshine In)" fromHair. Lockhart and the Pops also performed withQueen Latifah, folk legendArlo Guthrie (who paid tribute to his fatherWoody Guthrie by performing "This Land Is Your Land"), poetAmanda Gorman, two acts fromAmerica's Got Talent,The Texas Tenors andAmanda Mena, and theUnited States Navy Band'sSea Chanters Chorus.
The 2020 Fireworks Spectacular was canceled on May 8, 2020, due to the ongoing globalCOVID-19 pandemic of 2020. In its place, the Pops decided to present "A Boston Pops Salute to Our Heroes" on July 4, with the only option for broadcasting it being on television, radio and digital media.
The 2021 Fireworks Spectacular was announced on June 11, 2021. Due to the fact it typically takes 10 weeks to plan, it was decided to split the show into two portions. The musical portion would take place atTanglewood and broadcast live on-air and internet stream while the fireworks would take place on theBoston Common.[10] The guest artists wereMavis Staples andJon Batiste (headliners), theSix-String Soldiers of theUnited States Army Field Band, theSinging Sergeants of theUnited States Air Force Band.
The 2022 Fireworks Spectacular was announced on May 26, 2022, with the announcements that the event would be returning in full to the MassachusettsDepartment of Conservation and RecreationHatch Shell after a 2-year absence in addition to the selection of guest artists being announced at a later date. Additionally, the orchestra also announced a slew of tributes, a world premiere and a show of solidarity withUkraine, by performing itsState Anthem. The guest artists were announced on June 13, 2022, and were revealed to beChaka Khan (as the headliner), Broadway actressHeather Headley, andThe Voice (American TV Series) season one winnerJavier Colon. TheTanglewood Festival Chorus (under the direction ofJames Burton) and theMiddlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums Corps. would be joining the Pops as well. The orchestra performed moving tributes to the lateStephen Sondheim (as he died in November of 2021) ("A Comedy Tonight" from both the musical and film ofA Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, "Our Time" fromMerrily We Roll Along and "Children Will Listen" fromInto The Woods), andJudy Garland (to celebrate her centennial), and world premiered a new work, "Those Heroes Who Healed The Nation" by Julius P. Williams.
The 2023 Fireworks Spectacular was announced on May 26, 2023.En Vogue will headline the Boston July 4 fireworks celebration, joiningKeith Lockhart and the Boston Pops at the Hatch Shell. The award-winning R&B group behind popular 80's hits like “Free Your Mind” and “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” is the marquee entertainment at this year’s Fourth of July celebration. Also taking the Hatch Shell stage are Broadway starMandy Gonzalez (“In the Heights”), country duoLoCash, and a trio of Broadway performers — Alton Fitzgerald White, Elizabeth Stanley and Andrea Jones-Sojola — who participated in the Pops’ concert presentation of “Ragtime: The Symphonic Concert.”
Beginning in December 1973,Arthur Fiedler and the Pops started an occasional tradition at Symphony Hall, which after a few years, became a yearly staple of the winter season in Boston—their Christmas concerts, which became known regionally and locally as Holiday Pops.
Once Fiedler died in 1979,John Williams continued the tradition as conductor from 1980 until 1993. After two years of guest conductors while the BSO were interviewing their next permanent conductor,Keith Lockhart led his first Holiday Pops concert in December 1995. In addition to performing approximately between 40 and 42 each December, the Pops also began performing on New Year's Eve during Lockhart's tenure.
The Holiday Pops 2014 season ran from Wednesday, December 3, 2014, through Wednesday, December 24, 2014, with a movie shown Friday and Saturday, December 26–27, 2014, and the New Year's Eve concert happening on Wednesday, December 31, 2014.
2014 was the year that the Pops began showing popular Christmas movies after their 40- or 42-concert season was over. The first movie chosen wasHome Alone. The score, written by the laureate conductor Williams, was performed live by the orchestra, accompanying the film. The New Year's Eve concert was performed by the Boston Pops Swing Orchestra, led by bandleaderBo Winiker.
2015 was a significant year, because John Oliver, longtime conductor of theTanglewood Festival Chorus had retired at the end of the Tanglewood season that summer.
The Holiday Pops 2016 season ran from Wednesday, November 30, 2016, through Saturday, December 24, 2016, with a movie shown Friday and Saturday, December 30–31, 2016, and the New Year's Eve concert happening on Saturday, December 31, 2016.
The second movie chosen wasBack to the Future. The score, written byAlan Silvestri, was once again performed live by the orchestra, in sync with the film. The New Year's Eve concert was performed by the Boston Pops Swing Orchestra, once again led by bandleaderBo Winiker.
2016 was a significant year, because it was the first time in the history of the series of "Holiday Pops" concerts that the Tanglewood Festival Chorus performed without a conductor.
2017 was a significant year, because the BSO had chosen to replace John Oliver as the conductor of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and he would begin conducting the chorus that year.
The Holiday Pops 2017 season ran from Tuesday, December 5, 2017, through Sunday, December 24, 2017, with the New Year's Eve concert happening on Sunday, December 31, 2017. There was no movie chosen for that year.
The New Year's Eve concert was performed by the Boston Pops Swing Orchestra.
The Holiday Pops 2018 season ran from Thursday, December 6, 2018, through Monday, December 24, 2018, with a movie shown Saturday and Sunday, December 29–30, 2018, and the New Year's Eve concert happening on Monday, December 31, 2018.
The third movie chosen wasHome Alone once again. Billed asHome Alone In Concert, the score, written by Williams, was once more performed live by the orchestra, accompanying the film. The New Year's Eve concert was performed by the Boston Pops Swing Orchestra and special guestSeth MacFarlane.
The Holiday Pops 2019 season ran from Wednesday, December 4, 2019, through Tuesday, December 24, 2019, with a movie shown Saturday and Sunday, December 28–29, 2019, and the New Year's Eve concert happening on Tuesday, December 31, 2019.
The fourth movie chosen wasBugs Bunny At The Symphony. The score, written byCarl Stalling, was performed live by the orchestra, accompanying the film. The New Year's Eve concert was performed by the Boston Pops Swing Orchestra and special guestThe Hot Sardines.
The Pops introduced aSensory friendly concert for the first time on Saturday, December 7, 2019. The concert was designed and aimed at all families with children or adults diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or sensory sensitivities.
Over the course of Lockhart's quarter-century tenure, there have been numerous celebrity narrators who have joined the orchestra to reciteClement C. Moore's classic poem, arranged by Joseph Reisman. These narrators have included the likes of comedianJimmy Tingle (2005); singerAmanda Palmer (2009);New Jersey governorChris Christie (during the Pops' tour of Newark on December 5, 2010);Greg Kretschmar (December 18, 2011);Boston Bruins forwardShawn Thorton (2012);Casey Affleck (2014); newswomanJanet Wu (December 16, 2014, and December 12, 2018); then senator-electElizabeth Warren (2015); former baseball player and then-manager of theBoston Red SoxAlex Cora (who made history by reading the poem in Spanish for the first time in 2018); Massachusetts governorCharlie Baker (December 7, 2016, who announced that Lockhart would be a recipient of the 2017Massachusetts Commonwealth Award);Matt Seigel (host of theKiss 108 morning radio program "Matty In The Morning"; December 15, 2018); WBZ news anchor Lisa Hughes (December 11, 2017 & December 10, 2019); and WCVB Channel 5 news anchorsEd Harding andMaria Stephanos (December 10, 2016 & December 8, 2019).
Over the course of Lockhart's quarter-century tenure, there have been numerous celebrity conductors who have joined the orchestra to lead them inLeroy Anderson's famous composition. These conductors have included the likes of then-Boston Celtics centerShaquille O'Neal (2010), then-Massachusetts governor electCharlie Baker (2014), retiredBoston Red Sox second baseman andNESN sportscasterJerry Remy (2018), and then-Boston Celtics centerTacko Fall (2019), who became the tallest person to ever stand on the Symphony Hall podium.
POPSearch is the Boston Pops' nationwide talent competition that offers amateur singers the chance to perform with the orchestra at Boston's Fourth of July Extravaganza, as well as on the orchestra's national tour. The winner also receives a cash prize. TheAmerican Idol–style competition has expanded into a nationwide contest through video submissions onYouTube and voting through BostonPops.org.
Tracy Silva, a mother of two fromTaunton, Massachusetts, and van driver for special needs children, won the inaugural POPSearch contest in 2004.
Frances Botelho-Hoeg, an elementary school principal fromKingston, Massachusetts, was knocked out in the second round of the inaugural POPSearch, but returned in 2005 to sweep the competition.
The POPSearch 2007 grand champion Maria Perry won $5,000 and performed with the Boston Pops on July 3 and 4 in the annual July 4 Extravaganza seen by a live audience of almost a half-million people on the Charles River Esplanade and several million more on WBZ-TV.
In the early spring of 2008, Keith Lockhart announced the "Boston Pops High School Sing-Off—A Best of Broadway Challenge", the first Boston Pops musical theater competition for Massachusetts high school students. Students from high schools throughout Massachusetts were encouraged to submit audition videos of musical theater vocal works for solo, duet, trio, quartet, or quintet to the Boston Pops before May 9, 2008. The winner was featured in the Fourth of July concert on the Esplanade.[citation needed]
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