James M. Johnson News

American Airlines today announced a significant new relationship with The New York Pops, the largest independent pops orchestra in the United States, and the only professional symphonic orchestra in New York City specializing in popular music.

On July 4, 2009, The New York Pops and Music Director-Designate Steven Reineke joined Macy's to celebrate America's birthday with a rousing musical score to accompany the nation's largest fireworks display.

The New York Pops presented Once Upon a Time and Tomorrow: The Best of Charles Strouse at Carnegie Hall on Friday, April 3 at 8:00 PM with conductor Martin Yates. This concert was a tribute to the Tony Award-winning composer of Annie, Applause and Bye Bye Birdie. Accompanying The New York Pops were guest artists Gregg Edelman, Debbie Gravitte, Rebecca Luker, Karen Mason, Emma Rowley and Eric Jordan Young. The Young People's Chorus of New York City, directed by Francisco Núñez, were also featured in the evening's program.

The New York Pops has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The grant, awarded in the category 'Access to Artistic Excellence,' will support Once Upon a Time and Tomorrow: The Best of Charles Strouse, a concert celebrating the 80th birthday of the Tony Award-winning Broadway composer. The performance will provide the opportunity to explore the works of this time-honored American composer whose talent has advanced the art of musical theater and touched the hearts of music-lovers for generations. The New York Pops holds the unique distinction of being the only symphonic pops orchestra in the country to receive an award from the NEA in the category of 'Access to Artistic Excellence.'

The Board of Directors of The New York Pops and CEO James M. Johnson announced today the appointment of conductor Steven Reineke as the orchestra's Music Director, effective October 1, 2009. Mr. Reineke, who conducted The New York Pops' 25th Birthday Gala at Carnegie Hall earlier this year, succeeds the organization's founder, Skitch Henderson, who died in 2005. The announcement concludes an extensive three-year search by the orchestra and was unanimously supported by the musicians on the search committee and the Board of Directors.

The New York Pops has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The grant, awarded in the category 'Access to Artistic Excellence,' will support Once Upon a Time and Tomorrow: The Best of Charles Strouse, a concert celebrating the 80th birthday of the Tony Award-winning Broadway composer. The performance will provide the opportunity to explore the works of this time-honored American composer whose talent has advanced the art of musical theater and touched the hearts of music-lovers for generations. The New York Pops holds the unique distinction of being the only symphonic pops orchestra in the country to receive an award from the NEA in the category of 'Access to Artistic Excellence.'