Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular 2023

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 2,100 Boston Pops concerts and annual Boston Pops appearances at Tanglewood, as well as 45 national tours and 5 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. 

Legendary! It’s a status very few music groups ever attain. But for 30 years and counting, En Vogue has reached this pinnacle on nothing but pure talent, and they are not letting up now. Still riding high off the global release of 2018’s "Electric Café" — their first album in 14 years — En Vogue is soaring as Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, and Rhona Bennett take the group to even greater heights.

Formed in 1989 in the Bay Area, En Vogue — back then comprising Ellis, Herron, Dawn Robinson, and Maxine Jones — began their official takeover in 1990 with their hit single Hold On from their critically-acclaimed debut album "Born To Sing," which reached number one on both the dance and R&B/Hip-Hop charts. Since then, they have sold more 20 million physical albums, garnered more than 30 million streams and more than 26 million YouTube views for their top six hit singles alone, which, in addition to Hold On, include Free Your Mind, Never Gonna Get It, Giving Him Something He Can Feel, Don’t Let Go and Whatta Man featuring Salt-N-Pepa.

The new En Vogue is still thriving today, now a trio with Bennett, whose pre-group highlights include her childhood stint alongside future musical powerhouses Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, and Britney Spears on the Disney Channel’s The All-New Mickey Mouse Club.

Doubling down on their En Vogue legacy has yielded tremendous fruit. Rocket, their Ne-Yo-penned and Curtis “Sauce” Wilson-produced lead radio single from "Electric Café," which blends the group’s signature harmonies with a futuristic language for romance, became their first Top 10 single in 20 years. To date, the video, playing up the intergalactic love vibe, has nearly two million YouTube views.

Their second single, Reach 4 Me, a catchy song instructing a lover how to keep the relationship alive, hit the Top 20. The album itself — on En Vogue Records, the label formed by Herron and Ellis in 2016 and distributed by eOne Music —reached the Top 20 on Billboard’s independent album chart.

The critically-acclaimed album builds on all that makes En Vogue great — killer vocals infused with class. Thirty years later, the ladies remain the epitome of beauty and grace, proving that women can not only top and control the game on their own terms long-term, but look incredible and fashionable while doing so. As for keeping their pristine vocals and their bodies fit to maintain their signature high-energy, crowd-pleasing performance standard, the divas credit a largely plant-based diet and vigorous workout routines.

The result has been stunning. In addition to Rocket, other standout tracks include I’m Good, written and produced by Raphael Saadiq; Déjà vu and Blue Skies from the group’s original production duo, Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy; and Have a Seat featuring Snoop Dogg. Not only sonically pleasing, the album overflows with key messaging about women’s empowerment, self-love, and healthy relationships.

At the top of 2018, the trio treated their European fans to shows in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Holland, and Germany. In the United States, they stay on the road and in our ears; their music is heard in such films as "Captain Marvel" and "What Men Want," as well as such TV shows as "Pose" and "9-1-1." En Vogue also hopes to add more acting to their credits, which includes their own 2014 Lifetime film, "An En Vogue Christmas."

During their time off, the ladies enjoy spending time with loved ones, which for Herron includes a husband and four kids. They also give back with The HollyRod Foundation, which provides medical, physical, and emotional support to families living with autism and individuals battling Parkinson’s disease, as well as non-profit organizations that rescue victims from human trafficking and provide them with educational and job training, topping their philanthropic efforts.

Change may be inevitable, but some things remain magically the same. Three decades later, En Vogue continues to set a high standard for women in music. Their crowns remain intact. In a fickle industry, they have not only been able to “hold on,” but they’ve ascended to their “legendary” status on their own terms.

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 is an accomplished film, TV, stage actor and author, and she possesses one of the most powerful and versatile contemporary voices of our time. Gonzalez has starred on Broadway in the megahit musical Hamilton as Angelica Schuyler. She originated the role of Nina Rosario in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical In The Heights, for which she received a Drama Desk Award. Gonzalez also starred as Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked, blowing the roof off of New York’s Gershwin Theatre every night as she belted out the signature song, “Defying Gravity.” She has received an Obie Award and overwhelming critical praise for her performance in the off-Broadway production of Eli’s Comin’.

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.

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 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 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 is an award-winning journalist and multimedia presenter who has interviewed the biggest names in the worlds of business, politics, entertainment, and sports. He is currently the host of the daily television program "Bloomberg Markets: The Close."

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. Massar 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.