Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular 2023
Welcome from Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart
Dear Friends,
“So, let us not be blind to our differences—but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.” So said President John F. Kennedy, in a speech at American University in June of 1963.
Every year, the Boston Pops brings millions of Americans together on the banks of the Charles River, either in person or virtually, to celebrate “our common interests.” Our program is designed to highlight the wonderful diversity of America: this year, we feature R&B/soul icons En Vogue, the country duo LoCash, and Broadway leading lady Mandy Gonzalez, the daughter of a Mexican immigrant. Also appearing will be the cast of our recent revival of Ragtime, celebrating the 25th anniversary of that landmark musical and its still relevant theme of American diversity, and the perils and promise of a Union founded on such differences.
It’s easy for each of us to proclaim what the American core concepts of freedom and fairness mean in our own lives. It’s more difficult to listen to others and respect their differing takes on the American Dream. We live in a time when it seems that very few of us listen to each other, and it’s important to take a moment and remember that the Pledge of Allegiance says “with liberty and justice for all.” Not for just you. Not for just me. Not for one group of people, at the expense of others.
Maybe today’s event is a step in that direction…as we listen to the Boston Pops and the U.S. Army Field Band and Soldier’s Chorus, and join with them to sing our favorite patriotic songs, we can each remember that is everyone’s job to listen, even to those with whom we disagree.
After all, we have much in common: as President Kennedy continued in that speech from 50 years ago, “in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.”
Happy Fourth of July, everyone!
Keith
Program
The Circus Bee
Henry Fillmore
U.S. ARMY FIELD BAND, LT. COL. DOMINGOS ROBINSON, conductor
Battle Hymn of the Republic
William Steffe/Julia Ward Howe—arr. Wilhousky/Neilson
U.S. ARMY FIELD BAND and SOLDIERS’ CHORUS, LT. COL. DOMINGOS ROBINSON, conductor
One Big Country Song
Jesse Frasure/Ashley Gorley/Michael Hardy
LOCASH
Star Spangled Banner
John Stafford Smith/Francis Scott Key—arr. Bass
MANDY GONZALEZ, SOLDIERS’ CHORUS, and HONOR GUARD
The Brass Bash (medley)
TRUMPETS, EUPHONIUMS, and TROMBONES of the BOSTON POPS and U.S. ARMY FIELD BAND
Raiders March from Raiders of the Lost Ark
John Williams
Let Freedom Ring
Barry Manilow/Jack Feldman/Bruce Sussman—arr. Hough
SOLDIERS’ CHORUS, SARAH POLINSKI and IAN BOWLIN, soloists
Armed Forces Medley
arr. Kessler/Hayman
FIELD BAND AND SOLDIERS’ CHORUS
From Ragtime: The Symphonic Concert
Ragtime—Back to Before—Wheels of a Dream
Terrence McNally/Stephen Flaherty/Lynn Ahrens
ANDREA JONES-SOJOLA, ELIZABETH STANLEY, ALTON FITZGERALD WHITE, and SOLDIERS’ CHORUS
42nd Street
Harry Warren/Al Dubin—arr. Sebesky
Everything I Know from In the Heights
Lin-Manuel Miranda—arr. Mansfield
MANDY GONZALEZ
Patriotic Sing-Along
arr. Hayman
SOLDIERS’ CHORUS
PRESENTING LOCASH
Fearless
Lin-Manuel Miranda—arr. Elliott
MANDY GONZALEZ and SOLDIERS’ CHORUS
Defying Gravity from Wicked
Stephen Schwartz
MANDY GONZALEZ
PRESENTING EN VOGUE
1812 Overture
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Stars and Stripes Forever
John Philip Sousa
FIELD BAND and SOLDIERS’ CHORUS
Performers & Hosts
-
Keith Lockhart
Keith Lockhart is the second longest-tenured conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra since its founding in 1885. He took over as conductor in 1995, following John Williams’s thirteen-year tenure from 1980 to 1993; Mr. Williams succeeded the legendary Arthur Fiedler, who was at the helm of the orchestra for nearly fifty years. Keith Lockhart, who occupies the Julian and Eunice Cohen Boston Pops Conductor chair, has conducted more than 2,000 Boston Pops concerts and annual Boston Pops appearances at Tanglewood, as well as 45 national tours and 4 international tours to Japan and Korea. The annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular conducted by Mr. Lockhart draws a live audience of over half a million to the Charles River Esplanade and millions more who view it on television or live webcast. He has led eight albums on RCA Victor/BMG Classics; recent releases on Boston Pops Recordings include A Boston Pops Christmas–Live from Symphony Hall, The Dream Lives On: A Portrait of the Kennedy Brothers, and Lights, Camera… Music! Six Decades of John Williams. The list of nearly 300 guest artists with whom Keith Lockhart has collaborated represents performers from virtually every corner of the entertainment world. Having recently completed an eight- year tenure as principal conductor, he is now chief guest conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra in London; he is also artistic director of the Brevard Music Center summer institute and festival in North Carolina. Prior to his BBC appointment, he spent eleven years as music director of the Utah Symphony. He has appeared as a guest conductor with virtually every major symphonic ensemble in North America and many in Asia and Europe. Before coming to Boston, he was the associate conductor of both the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Pops orchestras, as well as music director of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. For more on Keith Lockhart, visit www.bso.org/keith-lockhart or bostonpops.org.
-
En Vogue
En Vogue has sold 20 million records worldwide and has won seven MTV Video Music Awards, three Soul Train Awards, two American Music Awards, and received seven Grammy nominations.En Vogue, current members Grammy-nominated Cindy Herron, Terry Ellis and Rhona Bennett are recognized as one of the top five highest selling American female music groups in history. Their effortless transition into the digital age, complemented by their effortless chic, has garnered the group over 30 million streams and 26 million-plus YouTube views on their Top 6 hit singles alone; smashes such as Hold On, Free Your Mind, Never Gonna Get It, Giving Him Something He Can Feel, Don’t Let Go, and Whatta Man (feat. Salt-N-Pepa).In 2021 the group made a cameo in the romantic comedy sequel “Coming to America 1” alongside Salt N Pepa. In 2022, En Vogue competed in the seventh season of The Masked Singer as the Queen Cobras. That same year the group embarked on the Mixtape Tour with New Kids on the Block, Salt-N-Pepa and Rick Astley.
-
LOCASH
Named “country music's iconic feel-good duo” by PEOPLE, Wheelhouse Records/BMG’s LOCASH – Preston Brust and Chris Lucas – is “hitting homers and serving up first-class songs,” as hailed by American Songwriter. With their loud-and-proud anthem “Three Favorite Colors” as their latest release, they recently delivered back-to-back high-profile collaborations with “Let It Slide” (Leslie Jordan, Blanco Brown, LOCASH) and “Beach Boys” (feat. The Beach Boys’ Mike Love and Bruce Johnston). LOCASH’s wild-and-free WOODS & WATER – EP (2021) marked the follow up to BROTHERS (2019), featuring GOLD #1 “One Big Country Song.” Known for PLATINUM breakout “I Love This Life” and their first #1 with GOLD “I Know Somebody,” they’ve earned eight charting singles, two successful albums, and over 815 MILLION global on-demand streams since 2015. Respected entertainers with prominent recognition, they hold a history of nods from the genre’s biggest awards shows including a Vocal Duo of the Year nomination at The 56th Annual CMA Awards. Last launching their extended headlining WOODS & WATER TOUR 2022, LOCASH is currently on the road with Kane Brown’s DRUNK OR DREAMING TOUR.
-
Mandy Gonzalez
Possessing a powerful and versatile voice, Mandy Gonzalez most recently starred as Angelica Schuyler in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mega-smash hit Hamilton and is best known for portraying Nina Rosario in the Tony Award-winning, Miranda Broadway musical In the Heights, a role she originally created Off Broadway at 37 Arts and received a Drama Desk Award for Best Ensemble. She also starred on Broadway as Elphaba in Wicked, Princess Amneris in the Elton John/Tim Rice musical Aida, and multiple roles, including that of Beatles’ icon John Lennon, in Lennon.
Mandy received an OBIE Award and overwhelming critical praise for her performance in the Off-Broadway production of Eli’s Comin directed by Diane Paulus and based on the music and lyrics of renowned singer-songwriter Laura Nyro.
Mandy can be heard as the voice of Mei in Disney’s Mulan 2 and on recordings of the original Broadway cast album of In the Heights, Kerrigan-Lowdermilk Live and The Man Who Would Be King.
Mandy released her debut album, FEARLESS, with Warner Music, which debuted at #13 on the iTunes charts. Her album – hailed as “a genre-defying, highly-personal, daring, and brilliant debut” (Pop Bytes) – delivers new, original songs from some of the most accomplished writers in the music industry, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jennifer Nettles, Bill Sherman, and Tom Kitt. An accomplished author, Mandy recently published her successful Young Adult novel series, FEARLESS, published by Simon and Schuster.”
-
Alton Fitzgerald White
Alton Fitzgerald White, after completing a record-breaking 4,308 performances as King Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway, has added author and in-demand keynote speaker to his growing list of titles. His book and audiobook My Pride: Mastering The Challenge Of Daily Performance—an inspirational autobiography filled with secrets to finding fulfillment and joy in work and life published by Disney Editions—have been nominated for several major national book awards. Other Broadway starring roles include Mister in The Color Purple, Coalhouse Walker, Jr., in Ragtime, Ken in Smokey Joe’s Cafe, John in Miss Saigon, and The Hawker in The Who’s Tommy. He made his West End debut as Ken in Smokey Joe’s Cafe in London. In addition to theater, Alton has performed in live concerts all over the world, including engagements with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall, the Boston and Cincinnati pops orchestras, and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and at such great venues as Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, the Tokyo International Forum, and Wolf Trap, to name a few. Some of those performances included music from his bestselling CD Disney My Way!, full of reimagined classics from Disney on Broadway.
In addition to his live-theater work, Alton has appeared on the big screen opposite Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Marcia Gay Harden and Oscar nominee Sam Elliott. He was also featured in The Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning Rent Live on Fox television. Alton’s television resume includes guest-star roles on the hit TV series Law & Order, The Blacklist, The Good Fight, Law & Order: SVU, Madam Secretary, Elementary, Mindhunter, Code Black, and FBI, and a recurring role on Bull as Judge Tahani. He is featured in Dexter: New Blood (Showtime) and has featured roles in Let The Right One In (Showtime) and Dear Edward (Apple TV). He will also appear in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, due for release in late June 2023.
Outside of performing, Alton has written for several major magazines including a cover story for The Nation Magazine, “Ragtime My Time,” that detailed his experience with racial profiling. That story has since appeared in publications all over the world as well as in dozens of college textbooks where it is studied for its content and structure. Alton’s popular TEDx Talk “Redefining Service to Dream the Impossible Dream” can be found here.
-
Elizabeth Stanley
Heralded as one of the “Breakout Stars of 2020” by the New York Times, Elizabeth Stanley received Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations and a Grammy Award for her performance as Mary Jane Healy in the musical Jagged Little Pill, inspired by the music of Alanis Morissette, book by Diablo Cody, and directed by Diane Paulus.
Stanley has dazzled Broadway audiences as Claire De Loone in the revival of On the Town (Drama Desk nomination), Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet, Allison in Cry-Baby, and April in the Tony Award-winning revival of Company. She appeared as Gussie in James Lapine’s production of Merrily We Roll Along at City Center Encores! (PS Classics cast recording), The Nurse in Hello Again (Transport Group, Drama League Award), Signature Theatre’s production of F**king A, and Of Thee I Sing (MasterVoices, Carnegie Hall). She starred as Francesca in the first national tour of Jason Robert Brown’s The Bridges of Madison County and as Kira in the first national tour of Xanadu. She recently appeared opposite Vanessa Williams and Santino Fontana in Sondheim’s Anyone Can Whistle in Concert at Carnegie Hall with MasterVoices.
On television, Elizabeth can be seen as Penny in the FX series Kindred and as Charlotte Byron in season 2 of Gossip Girl (HBO Max). Other appearances include The Equalizer, New Amsterdam, Younger, Blue Bloods, N0S482, FBI, The Get Down, The Affair, Black Box, Made in Jersey, Fringe, and PBS Great Performances—Company.
She has played leading roles on stages throughout the country including Sundance Theatre, Sacramento Music Circus, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Barrington Stage Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Pioneer Theatre Company, and Cincinnati Playhouse.
Elizabeth frequently performs in concert throughout the country, most recently with the Colorado Symphony, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and New York Pops.
She is a graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
-
Andrea Jones-Sojola
Andrea Jones-Sojola was recently seen in the Broadway hit The Music Man, starring Hugh Jackman. She played Strawberry Woman on Broadway in The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, starring Audra McDonald. Off-Broadway, she was seen in the critically acclaimed Carmen Jones. Other NYC highlights include Dear World, A Little Night Music, Brigadoon, Cabin in the Sky, The Most Happy Fella, Annie Get Your Gun, Parade, and Candide. She recently made her debut at the Muny as Sister Berthe in The Sound of Music and reprised the role at Virginia Opera. She won the “Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role” Award for Newton’s Cradle (New York Music Festival). This summer Andrea performs in Light in the Piazza (Encores!). Film and TV credits include For Colored Girls, Generation Lockdown, The Sound of Music Live! (NBC), Show Boat (PBS), Sweeney Todd, (PBS), Monsterland (Hulu), FBI (CBS), The Blacklist (NBC), Mozart in the Jungle (Amazon), and Fire Shut Up in My Bones (Metropolitan Opera/PBS). Andrea, originally from Louisville, KY, currently resides in Harlem with her family. When she is not on stage, she enjoys voice acting. She can be heard on several episodes of the podcast Strange and Unexplained.
-
The U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus
The Concert Band and Soldiers’ Chorus are the oldest and largest of The U.S. Army Field Band’s performing components. Founded in 1946 and 1957 respectively, these two ensembles combine to present joint concerts on their national tours. They have performed in all 50 states and 30 foreign countries for audiences totaling hundreds of millions. The 60-member Concert Band and 24-member Soldiers’ Chorus offer unparalleled versatility of programming, ranging from orchestral masterworks and operatic arias to Sousa marches, jazz classics, and Broadway musicals. Their performances integrate high-definition multimedia presentations, inspiring audiences of all ages with patriotism and passion. In 2022, these ensembles were featured on the Grammy-award winning Soundtrack of the American Soldier, and multiple components of the Field Band were featured in the live performances and international broadcast of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
In addition to their national tours, interactive social media products, and educational outreach events, members of the Concert Band and Soldiers’ Chorus frequently represent the Army at formal and ceremonial functions, including Inaugural Parades, State funerals, Vietnam War commemorations, and diplomatic efforts overseas.
-
Romaine Bostick
Romaine Bostick co-hosts Bloomberg Television’s “The Close” and “What’d You Miss?” from New York. Additionally, Bostick helps lead cross-asset financial market coverage across all Bloomberg News platforms. Prior to joining Bloomberg Television, Bostick helped foster and manage the Bloomberg terminal’s TOPLive blogging platform as a newsroom editor. With a background covering corporate finance, mortgage-backed securities, and government policy, Bostick orchestrated newsroom coverage of seminal events, including the 2002 Tyco CEO scandal, the dawn of credit-default swaps, the 2007-08 financial crisis, the 2012 Affordable Care Act implementation, and the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Bostick also spearheaded a data-mining project on more than 45,000 companies globally to monitor anomalies in earnings and cash flow trends. Before joining Bloomberg, Bostick held various editing and reporting positions at Kiplinger, Washingtonpost.com, and the Daily Herald (Illinois).
-
Carol Massar
Carol Massar is an award-winning business and financial journalist, who has anchored and reported around the globe interviewing leaders who are impacting business, financial markets, politics, society and culture. Carol joined Bloomberg in 1999, and currently co-hosts the daily broadcast and podcast, Bloomberg Businessweek. She began her broadcast career delivering business news over Columbia University’s radio waves.
Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra
First Violins
Katherine Winterstein
Charles Dimmick
Lisa Crockett
Christine Vitale
Sasha Callahan
Sarita Uranovsky
Sarah Atwood
Zoya Tsvetkova
Gregory Vitale
Susan Faux
Liana Zaretsky
Cynthia Cummings
Second Violins
Clayton Hoener
Jennifer Elowitch
Colin Davis
Dorothy Han
Heidi Braun-Hill
Judith Lee
Stacey Alden
Julie Leven
Mina Lavcheva
Omar Guey
Violas
Abigail Cross
Scott Woolweaver
Sharon Bielik
Jean Haig
Donna Jerome
David Feltner
Barbara Wright
Kenneth Stalberg
Cellos
Ronald Lowry
William Rounds
Jennifer Lucht
Eugene Kim
Leo Eguchi
Steven Laven
Francesca McNeeley
Melanie Dyball
Basses
Susan Hagen
John (Bebo) Shiu
Anthony D’Amico
Elizabeth Foulser
Randall Zigler
Peter Walsh
Flutes
Renée Krimsier
Ann Bobo
Linda Toote
Piccolo
Linda Toote
Oboes
Andrew Price
Amanda Hardy
Andrew van der Paardt
English Horn
Andrew van der Paardt
Clarinets
Ian Greitzer
Ryan Yure
Bass Clarinet
Ryan Yure
Bassoons
Ronald Haroutunian
Adrian Jojatu
Horns
Kevin Owen
Hazel Dean Davis
Whitacre Hill
Kate Gascoigne
Trumpets
Terry Everson
Michael Dobrinski
Bruce Hall
Richard Kelley
Trombones
Hans Bohn
Alexei Doohovsky
Bass Trombone
Angel Subero
Tuba
Takatsugu Hagiwara
Timpani
Richard Flanagan
Percussion
John Tanzer
Hans Morrison
William Manley
George Darrah, drums
Sean Skeete, drums
Harp
Krysten Keches
Keyboard
Benjamin Cook
Jesse Taitt
Guitar
Scott Johnson
Electric Bass
Mike Rivard
Librarians
Mark Fabulich
Joshua Luty
Personnel Manager
Nolan Welch
Fireworks Music Selections
Hoe Down from Rodeo (Aaron Copland), BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
This City, LADY A
Main Titles from The American President (Marc Shaiman)
More Than a Feeling, BOSTON
Midway March (John Williams), BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
The Best, TINA TURNER
Dibs, KELSEA BALLERINI
Don’t Get Me Wrong, MATCHBOX 20
Pearls, JESSIE WARE
Stronger, KELLY CLARKSON
Theme from The Patriot, BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA
Symphony No. 9 (Ludwig van Beethoven), BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & TANGLEWOOD FESTIVAL CHORUS
Military Information
Cannons
The 101st Field Artillery consists of 350 men and women from the 1st Battalion 101st Field Artillery Regiment, with Headquarters in Brockton, Alpha Battery in Fall River, and Charlie Battery in Danvers. Members of the 211th Military Police Battalion and the 1st Civil Support Team are also on hand assisting with public safety.
M102 Howitzer Cannon Specs
Caliber 105mm (4.13 in)
Width 6.4ft (2m)
Weight 1.5tn (1.4t)
Range 11,500m (7.1 miles)
Length 17.1ft (5.2m)
Height 5.2ft (1.6m)
Crew 8
Rate of fire 10 rounds per minute maximum
Event Information
Additional information is available at bostonpopsjuly4th.org.
Public Safety
For your safety, 25 federal, state, and city agencies are onsite in Boston and Cambridge and in the event’s Unified Command Center. Emergency Medical Services, first aid stations, and personnel are onsite in Boston and Cambridge.
Bathrooms
There are over 200 bathrooms located in Boston and Cambridge.
Weather
Updated weather forecasts will be announced periodically over the event’s public address system. Please follow any instructions given by public safety or via the sound system.
Remember, “If You See Something, Say Something”™
If you see something suspicious at all, please report it to one of the many uniformed public safety officers onsite or call 911.
Keep the Music Playing!
Help the Boston Pops present music at free concerts like this one. Your gift directly supports our talented musicians and programing, enabling access to music for thousands of kids and families across the state of Massachusetts.
Make a Gift
Thank You to Our Sponsors
-
Presenting Sponsor -
Media Partner -