About The Pops
What Our Audience Has To Say
Our audience members are the best! After every concert we are flooded with raves, suggestions, and requests. Robyn Bell reads them all always thinking how we can deliver even more of what you love.
Audience comments are all over this website. Look for the orange italics! Even this word cloud is built of audience comments.
Since its founding in 1975, The Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota has produced critically acclaimed musical attractions for enthusiastic audiences of all ages. As one of the top performing arts groups in a unique, culturally rich community, the Pops Orchestra attracts full-time residents, Suncoast “Snowbirds,” and vacationers to its concerts, proving to be a cultural and economic asset to the Greater Sarasota community.
The 65-piece orchestra consists of many of the community's finest professional musicians, community music makers, music educators, and high school and college music students, reflecting the diversity of its audience and patrons.
The annual four-subscription concert season features musical genres such as patriotic, Broadway, Hollywood, jazz, big band, jukebox, Motown, and holiday selections. In addition, the Pops Orchestra performs community concerts to honor veterans, welcome international sporting events, and feature outstanding local young musicians through its annual summer camp. The Pops partners with other area arts organizations, providing concerts for special occasions in the Suncoast region. Local and national guest artists frequently join the Pops, bringing additional energy and excitement to the stage. Each concert season is designed to entertain, invigorate, and project the Pops Orchestra's passion and enthusiasm for popular style music, featuring something for everyone.
Robyn Bell began her tenure as the Pops' conductor and artistic director in 2011 and is the orchestra's 5thconductor. Previous conductors include Arlene Stein, Pat Stenberg, Dale Jensen, and Ken Bowermeister.