Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

The Eastman-Rochester Pops Orchestra is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1947 by Howard Hanson, the director of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. The orchestra was created to provide a platform for the school's students to perform popular music and to showcase the talents of the school's faculty members. The ensemble's main members have included a rotating cast of Eastman School of Music students and faculty members, as well as guest performers from around the world. Over the years, the orchestra has been led by a number of distinguished conductors, including Hanson himself, as well as Frederick Fennell, David Effron, and Michael Butterman. One of the highlights of the Eastman-Rochester Pops Orchestra's early years was its performance at the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels, Belgium. The orchestra was invited to represent the United States at the fair, and its performance was broadcast live on television to millions of viewers around the world. In the years that followed, the Eastman-Rochester Pops Orchestra continued to perform at major venues and events across the United States and around the world. The ensemble's repertoire included a wide range of popular music, from Broadway show tunes to Hollywood film scores to classical favorites. One of the orchestra's most notable performances came in 1971, when it was invited to perform at the White House for President Richard Nixon and his guests. The ensemble's performance was well-received, and it helped to cement the orchestra's reputation as one of the premier classical music ensembles in the United States. Over the years, the Eastman-Rochester Pops Orchestra has received numerous awards and accolades for its performances and recordings. In 1960, the ensemble won a Grammy Award for its recording of Leroy Anderson's "Blue Tango," and it has been nominated for several other Grammy Awards over the years. In addition to its performances and recordings, the Eastman-Rochester Pops Orchestra has also been involved in a number of educational and outreach programs. The ensemble has worked with schools and community organizations across the United States to promote classical music and to provide opportunities for young musicians to develop their skills and talents. Today, the Eastman-Rochester Pops Orchestra continues to perform and record, and it remains one of the most respected and beloved classical music ensembles in the world. Its legacy of excellence and innovation continues to inspire musicians and music lovers around the globe.

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