Philly Pops
{{Short description|American orchestra based in Philadelphia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox orchestra|name=The Philly Pops|type=Orchestra|founded={{Start date and age|1979}}|principal_conductor=David Charles Abell|music_director=David Charles Abell|website={{URL|https://www.phillypops.org/}}}}
The Philly Pops is an American orchestra that is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.{{cite web|title=About The Philly POPS|url=http://www.phillypops.org/about-us.php|website=The Philly POPS: One-of-a-kind orchestra|publisher=Encore Series, Inc.|accessdate=11 July 2014}}
History
Founded by presenter and producer, Moe Septee, and conducted from 1979 to 2013 by two-time Grammy Award-winning pianist Peter Nero, the Philly Pops plays orchestral versions of popular jazz, swing, Broadway songs and blues. David Charles Abell took over the positions of principal conductor and music director in 2020.{{Cite news |last=Dobrin |first=Peter |date=2020-07-03 |title=David Charles Abell takes over Philly Pops, with face masks and acrylic partitions if that's what it takes |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |url=https://www.inquirer.com/arts/philly-pops-independence-day-concert-2020-david-charles-abell-20200703.html |access-date=2022-10-01 |oclc=8621184098}}
On October 4, 1999, the Philly Pops was designated as the official pops orchestra of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.{{Cite act|type=Resolution|date=5 October 1999|legislature=Pennsylvania General Assembly|title=A Resolution designating the Philly Pops as the official pops orchestra of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania|url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=1999&sind=0&body=H&type=R&bn=0260}}
The Philly Pops will cease operations after the 2022-2023 season.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-16 |title=Philly Pops to cease operations at end of 2022-23 season |url=https://whyy.org/articles/hilly-pops-shutting-down-orchestra-board-of-directors/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=WHYY |language=en-US}} In 2023, former financial controller for the Philly Pops, Cheryl Lutts, was convicted of embezzling more than $280,000 from the organization, starting when she was hired in 2019.{{cite news |last1=Roebuck |first1=Jeremy |title=Former financial professional for Philly Pops and Jewish Exponent sentenced to prison for embezzling nearly $1.7M |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/cheryl-lutts-sentence-prison-philly-pops-jewish-exponent-20230725.html |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |date=July 25, 2023 |language=en}}
The musicians of the Philly Pops have organized into the recently formed No Name Pops to continue the musical tradition of the Philly Pops.
Notable Members
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.phillypops.org/}}
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Category:Jazz ensembles from Pennsylvania