David Charles Abell Named Principal Guest Conductor of Philly POPS

The Philly POPS announced today that David Charles Abell has been named Principal Guest Conductor.

"Given his Philly roots, enthusiastic local following, impressive resume, and programming talent, we're thrilled to have David in a formal role", said Frank Giordano, President and CEO, The Philly POPS. "David will be the perfect complement to the excellent and creative work done by Music Director Michael Krajewski which has resulted in the POPS's current extraordinary growth trajectory."

No stranger to Philadelphia, David Charles Abell made his Philly POPS debut in 2013 and has conducted three Christmas concert series, some thirty programs in all, and last season's Blockbuster Broadway concert series, all to sold out crowds. He has created and will conduct this season's Lenny's Revolution: A Centennial Bernstein Celebration concert series which opens on February 2, 2018. The show is part of a citywide tribute to Leonard Bernstein planned to mark the centennial of his birth. A protégé of the composer, David made his professional conducting debut conducting Bernstein's Mass in Berlin, having previously sung in the original Kennedy Center premiere of that work as a member of the Berkshire Boys Choir.

Classical music, opera, and musical theater all contribute to David's diverse career, unified by a serious yet theatrical approach. He is widely known for conducting the two Les Misérables Anniversary Concerts (10th and 25th), both of which have become PBS fund-raising perennials. Now living in London, he regularly appears on radio and television in the UK, most notably at the BBC Proms, London's annual music festival at the Royal Albert Hall.

David attended Yale University and studied at Conservatoire Américain in France and the Juilliard School. David's mother came from a Philadelphia family, and he attended Germantown Friends School while living in Mt. Airy as a child.

About The Philly POPS
The Philly POPS, the largest standalone pops orchestra in the United States, delights audiences with the inspired performance of American popular music. The POPS celebrates this distinctive musical heritage through an expanding repertoire of innovative concert presentations and a robust set of educational and engagement initiatives.

Now in its 38th season, the official POPS orchestra of Pennsylvania serves a consistently growing audience of over 100,000 annually. Music Director Michael Krajewski and the 65-piece Philly POPS orchestra keeps listeners tapping their toes to an impressive repertoire of songs from the 1920s up through today's chart toppers.

Outside the concert hall, Salute Series performances - including POPS on Independence on July 3 and the I'll Be Home for Christmas: A Salute to the Military and First Responders event - celebrate the American tradition of service around important national holidays; POPS in Schools enhances music education for Philadelphia School District students; and POPS Outside brings POPS music to local communities.

The Philly POPS performs as a founding resident company of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and at venues throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

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