The New York Pops

What The New York Pops does

The New York Pops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit performing arts organization founded in 1983 by Ruth and Skitch Henderson, headquartered in New York City. It operates the largest independent pops orchestra in the United States, comprising 78 professional musicians, and is the only professional symphonic orchestra in New York City specializing in popular music — spanning Broadway melodies, film scores, jazz, rock, and pop. The orchestra maintains a long-running residency at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, performing an annual subscription concert series (the 2026-2027 season features six concerts) and an annual spring Birthday Gala.

The organization's core offerings fall into two product lines. The first is the Subscription Concert Series and Birthday Gala at Carnegie Hall, featuring collaborations with Broadway and entertainment guest artists, with ticketing and box office operations conducted through Carnegie Hall. The second is PopsEd, a comprehensive music education division that includes Kids in the Balcony (free concert tickets for students), Kids in the Stadium (Queens extension at Forest Hills Stadium), Kids on Stage (middle/high school performance program), in-school Residencies (Teaching Artists in NYC schools), and the Meet the Musicians educational video series. PopsEd has cumulatively served over 100,000 NYC public school students across all five boroughs.

Revenue is generated through four streams: ticket sales for concerts and the Gala, individual donations (including planned giving through PopsLegacy), institutional grants from NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYS Council on the Arts, and private foundations such as The Leir Foundation, and corporate sponsorships (notably Thompson Hotels). Day-to-day operations are led by President and Executive Director Anne M. Swanson, with Music Director Steven Reineke — also Principal Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and Principal Pops Conductor of the Houston and Toronto Symphonies — heading artistic direction. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors chaired by John Littzi, with Founders Ruth and Skitch Henderson holding emeritus positions.

Name

The New York Pops

Legal name

The New York Pops

Website

https://newyorkpops.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The New York Pops is the largest independent pops orchestra in the United States, founded in 1983, performing an annual concert series at Carnegie Hall and operating the PopsEd music education program serving thousands of NYC public school students annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Symphonic Orchestra Performance

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Pops orchestra performances
• Symphonic concert series
• Music education programs
• Arts nonprofit organization
• Carnegie Hall concerts

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Concert Revenue: Income from ticket sales for the annual concert series at Carnegie Hall and special events including the Birthday Gala.
2. Individual Donations: The New York Pops is a non-profit organization supported through the generosity of individual donors who contribute to fund the orchestra and its education programs.
3. Institutional Grants: Support from government and private foundations including New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and New York State Council on the Arts.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from corporate sponsors including Thompson hotels and other business partners.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The New York Pops is a 78-musician independent pops orchestra that performs an annual subscription concert series at Carnegie Hall featuring popular music genres including Broadway, film scores, jazz, rock, and pop with guest artists. The organization also operates PopsEd, a comprehensive music education division providing free concert tickets, in-school residencies, and mentorship programs to thousands of NYC students annually.

Product overview

The New York Pops is a 78-musician independent pops orchestra, the largest in the United States, now in its 43rd season. The organization operates two core offerings: (1) Professional concert performances at Carnegie Hall and other venues featuring guest artists from Broadway, film, and popular music, including its annual Birthday Gala; and (2) PopsEd, a comprehensive music education division that provides thousands of NYC public school students with free concert tickets, in-school residencies, and mentorship programs including Kids in the Balcony, Kids in the Stadium, Kids on Stage, and school-based Residencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Subscription Concert Series Annual subscription concert series at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage featuring guest artists performing popular music genres including Broadway, film scores, jazz, rock, and pop. The 2026-2027 season features six concerts with guest artists including Lena Hall, Denée Benton, Jordan Donica, Derek Klena, Lindsay Mendez, Jimmie Herrod, and Marisha Wallace.
• Birthday Gala Annual spring fundraising gala featuring performances and notable honorees, raising vital funds for the orchestra and its PopsEd education programs. Past honorees include Clive Davis, Kristen and Bobby Lopez, and Barry Manilow.
• PopsEd Music Education Programs Comprehensive music education division offering fully customizable music programs that blend traditional education with composition, lyric writing, performance, and mentorship. Programs serve thousands of NYC public school students annually across all five boroughs.
• Kids in the Balcony Flagship education program providing free tickets to 100 students for each subscription concert and over 830 for the Birthday Gala at Carnegie Hall, accompanied by pre-concert classroom visits by orchestra members.
• Kids in the Stadium Queens-based expansion of the Kids in the Balcony program providing free concert tickets to families at Forest Hills Stadium performances, with over 1,000 children and families attending free of charge.
• Kids on Stage Free comprehensive performance program allowing middle and high school students to experience the professional performance process from audition through to performing at Carnegie Hall alongside New York Pops musicians.
• PopsEd Residencies School-based music programs that send Teaching Artists into NYC public schools for instrumentals, chorus, musical theater, and other customized music education tailored to each school's needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 NYC students served by PopsEd programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Carnegie HallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary performance venue for The New York Pops annual concert series. The orchestra performs at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage and is among the venue's most presented ensembles. Partnership includes subscription series, ticketing integration, and collaborative programming.
• NYC Department of Cultural AffairscoreOthersGovernment cultural affairs agency providing public funding support to The New York Pops and its education programs including Kids in the Balcony.
• New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)coreOthersState arts council providing public funding support for the Carnegie Hall Subscription Series and other programming.
• Morahan Arts and MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic relations partner handling media relations and communications for The New York Pops.
• Gemini Music ProductionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOrchestra personnel management partner, providing administrative support for musician scheduling and logistics.
• Morrison Cohen, LLPminorOthersLegal counsel providing legal services to The New York Pops.
• DS Consulting GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEvent coordination partner for The New York Pops events.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boston Pops: The Boston Pops is the most iconic American pops orchestra, performing popular music, film scores, and Broadway at Symphony Hall. Directly comparable as a long-running professional pops ensemble with a similar concert-and-education mission.
• Houston Symphony: Houston Symphony runs a significant pops series led by Steven Reineke as Principal Pops Conductor. Directly comparable pops programming model and direct leadership linkage to The New York Pops' Music Director.
• Hollywood Bowl Orchestra: Hollywood Bowl Orchestra performs popular music, film scores, and pops repertoire at the Hollywood Bowl venue. Comparable as a venue-anchored pops ensemble with a strong popular-music identity.
• Philadelphia Orchestra: Operates a major pops concert series alongside its classical programming. Comparable as a professional orchestra with multi-format programming reaching large popular-music audiences and running parallel education initiatives.
• National Symphony Orchestra: NSO presents pops programming at the Kennedy Center with Steven Reineke as Principal Conductor. Comparable national-caliber pops programming and direct artistic-leadership overlap with The New York Pops.
• Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Toronto Symphony Orchestra has a pops series with Steven Reineke as Principal Pops Conductor. Comparable pops-format programming and direct artistic-leadership overlap with The New York Pops.
• Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra: Pittsburgh Symphony's pops series presents popular music, Broadway, and film scores. Comparable pops-format programming and similar reliance on a flagship orchestra brand to drive popular-music ticket sales.
• Cleveland Pops Orchestra: Independent pops orchestra in Cleveland presenting popular, Broadway, and holiday music. Closely comparable as a dedicated pops ensemble with a similar artistic mission and educational outreach model.

Broad incumbents

• Carnegie Hall: The New York Pops' primary venue partner and one of the world's most prestigious concert halls. Comparable as a New York performing arts organization with broader scope across many genres and presenters, and a parallel education mission.
• New York Philharmonic: New York's flagship symphony orchestra with extensive education programs (Young People's Concerts, school partnerships). Comparable as a major NYC orchestra with a parallel arts-education mission and donor-supported funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thenewyorkpops
• Instagraminstagram.com/thenewyorkpops

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The New York Pops