About The New York Pops

About The New York Pops

Our Story

Comprised of 78 musicians, 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 and Conductor Steven Reineke, the orchestra performs an annual subscription series at Carnegie Hall, and is among the venue’s most presented ensembles. The New York Pops’ annual birthday gala is celebrated each spring, raising funds for the orchestra and its education programs. The New York Pops performs annually in Queens, NY at Forest Hills Stadium, a 14,000-seat historic concert venue.

Now celebrating its 37th season, 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 Sara Bareilles, Darren Criss, Roger Daltrey, Megan Hilty, Carly Rae Jepsen, Angela Lansbury, Queen Latifah, Cyndi Lauper, Idina Menzel, Matthew Morrison, Kelli O’Hara, Miss Piggy, Pink Martini, and many more.

Through its PopsEd music education programs, The New York Pops fulfills its dedication to lifelong learning and collaborates with public schools, community organizations, 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 residency 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.

The New York Pops is committed to serving all members of the community. Through its Kids in the Balcony and Kids in the Stadium programs, thousands of children and their parents have had an opportunity to see The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall and Forest Hills Stadium free of charge. Over the years, the orchestra has presented free concerts in city parks, community organizations, and senior centers; performed the National Anthem at sports venues; and toured throughout the world. Past media projects include the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on NBC Television, a nationally syndicated radio series, and performances on PBS. The orchestra’s discography encompasses recordings of popular standards, theater and film scores, and music for the holidays.

The New York Pops was founded by Ruth and 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.

Steven Reineke is the Music Director of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, Principal Pops Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Principal Pops Conductor of the Houston Symphony and Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He previously held the posts of Principal Pops Conductor of the Long Beach and Modesto Symphony Orchestras and Associate Conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.

Mr. Reineke is a frequent guest conductor with The Philadelphia Orchestra and has been on the podium with the Boston Pops, The Cleveland Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia. His extensive North American conducting appearances include Seattle, Edmonton and Pittsburgh.

On stage, Mr. Reineke has created programs and collaborated with a range of leading artists from the worlds of hip hop, Broadway, television, and rock including: Common, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Sutton Foster, Megan Hilty, Cheyenne Jackson, Wayne Brady, Peter Frampton, and Ben Folds, amongst others. In 2017 he was featured on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" leading the National Symphony Orchestra - in a first for the show's 45-year history - performing live music excerpts in between news segments.

As the creator of more than one hundred orchestral arrangements for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Mr. Reineke’s work has been performed worldwide, and can be heard on numerous Cincinnati Pops Orchestra recordings on the Telarc label. His symphonic works Celebration Fanfare, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Casey at the Bat are performed frequently in North America. His numerous wind ensemble compositions are published by the C.L. Barnhouse Company and are performed by concert bands around the world.

A native of Ohio, Mr. Reineke is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio, where he earned bachelor of music degrees with honors in both trumpet performance and music composition.

musicians of the orchestra

Violin
Cenovia Cummins, Concertmaster
Michael Roth, Principal II
Martin Agee
Lorra Baylis
Sara Caswell
Karen DiYanni
Yana Goichman
Howard Hall
Kelly Hall-Tompkins
Conrad Harris
Karen M. Karlsrud
Stanley Kurtis *
Byung K. Kwak
Ira Lieberman *
Elizabeth Lim-Dutton
Katherine Livolsi- Landau
Lisa Matricardi
Laura Oatts
Louise Owen
Dorothy Strahl
Belinda Whitney
Clara Zahler

Viola
Adria Benjamin
Christine Ims
Warren N. Laffredo *
Karen Olson
Jack Rosenberg *
Veronica Salas *

Cello
David Heiss, Principal *
Deborah Assael-Migliore
Daryl Goldberg
Adam Grabois
Pamela Greitzer
E. Zoe Hassman
Sarah Hewitt
Daniel D. Miller

Bass
Jeff Carney, Principal
John Beal
Lou Bruno
William M. Ellison   
Richard Fredrickson *
Mark M. Minkler

Flute
Katherine Fink, Principal *
Helen Campo
Susan Rotholz

Oboe
Diane Lesser, Principal
Marsha J. Heller

English Horn
Randall Ellis

Clarinet
Lino Gomez
Mitchell Kriegler

Bassoon
Harry Searing, Principal
Tom Sefcovic

Horn
Daniel Culpepper, Principal
Lawrence DiBello
Jean F. Martin-Williams *
Susan Panny

Trumpet
Neil Balm, Principal *
James De La Garza
Tony Kadleck

Trombone
Richard Clark, Principal
Mark A. Patterson
John D. Rojak *

Tuba
Marcus Rojas, Principal

Timpani
Jonathan Haas, Principal

Percussion
James F. Saporito, Principal
Barry Centanni
Sherrie Maricle

Harp
Anna Reinersman, Principal

Orchestra Personnel Managers
Neil Balm
Jonathan Haas

Music Librarian
Manly Romero

 

* Member of The New York Pops since 1983

Board of Directors

  • Founders
  • Ruth and Skitch Henderson

  • Chairman
  • James A. Read

  • Treasurer
  • Kent Lorentzen

  • Secretary
  • June Freemanzon

  • Members
  • Alain Boublil
  • Jeffrey P. Englander
  • Catherine French
  • John Gardner
  • Erin S. Gore
  • Nicola Heryet
  • Capathia Jenkins
  • Eric Johnson
  • John Littzi
  • Nancy Rabstejnek Nichols
  • Kelli O'Hara
  • Mary Carr Patton
  • Robert S. Pohly
  • Carrie Loomis Pryor
  • Andrea Reiser
  • Elizabeth Ritzcovan
  • Michael Rosen
  • Jonathan Sands
  • Rachael Sherman
  • Jeffrey S. Sohm
  • William T. Sullivan
  • Kimberly Till
  • Karen van Bergen
  • Hillary Weldon

administration

  • Executive Director
  • Anne M. Swanson

  • Director of Artistic Operations
  • Nicholai Joaquin

  • Artistic Planning Assistant
  • Karen Baddorf

  • Director of Development
  • Carolyn O. Bolt

  • Assistant Director of Development
  • Jamie Moses

  • Development and Communications Assistant
  • Stephen Furda

  • Education and Operations Manager
  • Analisa Bell

  • Director, Kids on Stage
  • Brian Worsdale

  • Administrative Intern
  • Katie Read

faq

Where do I buy tickets for The New York Pops concerts?

Tickets are available on Carnegie Hall’s website beginning each season in August. The Box office is located at Carnegie Hall (corner of 57th Street and Seventh Avenue). Tickets can also be purchased through CarnegieCharge by calling 212-247-7800. Tickets to The New York Pops Birthday Gala become available in January through The New York Pops office.

 

What should I expect at a New York Pops concert? How should I dress?

Learn more about the Carnegie Hall concert experience, including what to wear, here. New York Pops concerts are loads of fun, and you can expect to laugh and smile. Most New York Pops concerts last 110-120 minutes, including one intermission.

 

Do I qualify for a discounted ticket?

Visit Carnegie Hall’s discount ticket page for a list of all reduced-rate ticket programs.

 

How do I get to Carnegie Hall? Where is Forest Hills Stadium?

Carnegie Hall is located in midtown Manhattan, at the corner of 57th Street and Seventh Avenue. It is easily accessible by subway, bus, or car. More information can be found here. Forest Hills Stadium is located in Queens, on the grounds of the West Side Tennis Club. For information on getting to the venue, click here.

 

Who is Steven Reineke’s favorite singer?

Ella Fitzgerald is Steven’s all-time favorite singer.

 

Who were the first “stars” to appear with The New York Pops?

Opera legend Roberta Peters appeared with The New York Pops in January 1984.

 

“Throughout the evening, [Skitch] Henderson conducted with effusion. Time will tell whether the New York Pops can grow to become a mainstay in Manhattan's musical community. But Mr. Henderson's determination, and the enthusiasm of his forces, augur well for the young orchestra.” – Tim Page, The New York Times, January 22, 1984.

Work With Us

Thank you for your interest in working with The New York Pops. There are no openings at this time. Please check back in the future.

 

Annual Report and 990

The New York Pops is committed to transparency. We are grateful to our supporters and donors, who make possible all the work we do.

For detailed financial information, please contact The New York Pops office at info@nypops.org to request a copy of our most recent Form 990 and Annual Report.