CARNEGIE HALL PRESENTS
The New York Pops
Concert for Courage
Performers
The New York Pops
Steven Reineke, Music Director and Conductor
The Soldiers' Chorus of The US Army Field Band
First Lieutenant Alexandra Borza, Associate Bandmaster
Program
ALL-SMITH PROGRAMProgram to include:
SMITH / KEY "The Star-Spangled Banner" (harmonized and orchestrated by Damrosch)
RODGERS "Victory at Sea" (arr. Bennett)
FAIN "I'll Be Seeing You" (arr. Steven Reineke)
WARD "America the Beautiful" (arr. Dragon)
COPLAND "Letter from Home"
"Salute to the Armed Forces" (arr. Hayman and Jim Kessler)
JOHN WILLIAMS "Hymn to the Fallen" from Saving Private Ryan
Event Duration
The printed program will last approximately two hours, including one 20-minute intermission.
This performance is sponsored by Bank of America, Carnegie Hall's Proud Season Sponsor.
Bios
The New York Pops
The New York Pops is the largest independent pops orchestra in the United States and the
only professional symphonic orchestra in New York City that specializes in popular music.
Led by Music Director Steven Reineke, the orchestra performs an annual subscription series
at Carnegie Hall, enjoying one of its highest subscription renewal rates. The New York
Pops' annual birthday gala is celebrated each spring, raising funds for the orchestra and
its education programs. The New York Pops performs a summer series at its new summer home,
Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York, which reaches audiences of more than 5,000.
Now in its 34th season, The New York Pops celebrates the diversity of popular music's
evolving songbook. Every concert is a unique experience, with influences that range from
Broadway melodies to film scores, jazz, rock, pop, and everything in between. The orchestra
collaborates with stars from the stage and screen, such as Darren Criss, Megan Hilty, Queen
Latifah, Idina Menzel, Matthew Morrison, Kelli O'Hara, Miss Piggy, Pink Martini, and many
more. Under the leadership of Mr. Reineke, The New York Pops continues to re-imagine
orchestral pops music.
The New York Pops is dedicated to lifelong learning, and collaborates with public schools,
community organizations, children's hospitals, and senior centers throughout the five
boroughs of New York City. PopsEd allows thousands of New Yorkers of all ages and
backgrounds to participate in fully customizable music programs that blend traditional
education with pure fun. PopsEd makes music open to all, and uses tools like composition,
lyric writing, performance, and mentorship to foster learning and unbridled creativity. In
doing so, these programs excite students and give them skills they can apply to all areas
of their lives.
The New York Pops is committed to creating access for all members of the community.
Thousands of children and their parents have the opportunity to see The New York Pops
during interactive and educational family concerts in partnership with Carnegie Hall's
Weill Music Institute. The orchestra has toured throughout the world. Past media projects
include the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on NBC, a nationally
syndicated radio series, and performances on PBS. The orchestra's discography includes
recordings of popular standards, theater and film scores, and music for the holidays.
The New York Pops was founded by Ruth and Skitch Henderson in 1983 with a mission to
create greater public awareness and appreciation of America's rich musical heritage through
presentation of concerts and education programs of the highest quality. The New York Pops
is a nonprofit organization supported solely through the generosity of individual
donations, institutional grants, corporate sponsorships, and concert income.
Steven Reineke
Steven Reineke's boundless enthusiasm and exceptional artistry have made him one of the
nation's most sought-after pops conductors, composers, and arrangers. Mr. Reineke is the
music director of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, principal pops conductor of the
National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,
principal pops conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and principal pops conductor
designate of the Houston Symphony. He previously held the posts of principal pops conductor
of the Long Beach Symphony and Modesto Symphony Orchestra, and associate conductor of the
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.
Mr. Reineke is a frequent guest conductor with The Philadelphia Orchestra and has been on
the podium with the Boston Pops, The Cleveland Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra at Ravinia. His extensive North American conducting appearances include
performances with the orchestras of San Francisco, Seattle, Edmonton, Pittsburgh,
Vancouver, Ottawa (National Arts Centre), Detroit, Milwaukee, and Calgary.
On stage, Mr. Reineke has created programs and collaborated with a range of leading
artists from the worlds of hip-hop, Broadway, television, and rock, including Kendrick
Lamar, Nas, Sutton Foster, Megan Hilty, Cheyenne Jackson, Wayne Brady, Peter Frampton, and
Ben Folds, among others.
As the creator of more than 100 orchestral arrangements for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra,
Mr. Reineke's work has been performed worldwide and can be heard on numerous Cincinnati
Pops Orchestra recordings on the Telarc label. His symphonic works Celebration
Fanfare, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Casey at the Bat are performed
frequently in North America, including performances by the New York and Los Angeles
philharmonics. His Sun Valley Festival Fanfare was used to commemorate the Sun
Valley Summer Symphony's pavilion, and his Festival Te Deum and Swan's Island
Sojourn were debuted by the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Pops orchestras. His
numerous wind ensemble compositions are published by the C. L. Barnhouse Company and are
performed by concert bands worldwide.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Reineke is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio, where he earned
bachelor of music degrees with honors in both trumpet performance and music composition. He
currently resides in New York City with his husband, Eric Gabbard. Mr. Reineke is
represented by Peter Throm Management, LLC.
The Soldiers' Chorus of The US Army Field Band
Founded in 1957, The Soldiers' Chorus is the vocal component of The United States Army
Field Band of Washington, DC. This 29-member mixed chorus travels throughout the nation and
abroad, performing both independently and jointly with the Army Field Band's Concert Band.
The Soldiers' Chorus has performed in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, India, and throughout
Europe.
The musical backgrounds of The Soldiers' Chorus personnel range from opera, musical
theater, gospel, and rock to music education and vocal coaching, providing the ensemble
with unique programming flexibility. In addition to choral repertoire, The Soldiers' Chorus
performances often include Broadway, opera, popular music, jazz, Americana, and more. This
versatility contributes to the ensemble's nationwide reputation for musical excellence and
inspiring patriotism.
The Soldiers' Chorus has collaborated with the Boston and Cincinnati pops orchestras; the
Nashville Symphony; and the Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, and National symphony orchestras. The
ensemble is a mainstay of PBS's annual National Memorial Day Concert, and performed at the
state funerals of presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford.