Boston Pops

Founded in 1884 as an offshoot of the Boston Symphony Orchestra to bring "concerts of a lighter kind of music" to the public, The Pops performed for the first time in 1885. The concerts were termed The Promenade Concerts, and included performances of lighter classical music as well as popular musical theater hits of the day. The Pops made its greatest inroads into audiences not usually exposed to classical music under the baton of Arthur Fiedler, who led the ensemble for fifty years beginning in 1930. His goal was to make classical music more accessible and not just the province of the upper class. After his death in 1979, this tradition was carried on by the renowned composer John Williams, who included his own music from the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies in the repertoire. Today The Pops is led by Keith Lockhart, who has included such pop luminaries as Aimee Mann and Elvis Costello in performances under his tenure.