Seeing an opportunity to challenge the status quo of standard orchestra repertoire, Founder and Music Director, Luke Frazier, created The American Pops in 2015 with the intent of breaking the mold of the traditional pops orchestra. This new, distinctly “American” orchestra would bring together versatile musicians and reimagined programming focused around the Great American Songbook, and present well- known songs with an approachable, fresh spin in order to engage diverse audiences and make attending a live orchestra show fun again. Through non-traditional orchestral settings, APO aims to deliver popular American classics to those who already know and love them, while also introducing these timeless pieces to younger generations in approachable settings.

Based in Washington, D.C., APO presents a myriad of performances in a variety of venues including the Smithsonian museums, National Portrait Gallery, Arena Stage, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, as well as Lincoln Center in New York City, and most recently entering a new virtual venue through its vast online programming. Each APO show has a uniquely created theme with fresh arrangements of the American songbook that bring together the pops orchestra, Broadway performers, and other professional artists. Included in each APO season are reimagined children’s stories, fitness and mindfulness yoga practices, the NextGen: Finding the Voices of Tomorrow National Vocal Competition, and multiple mainstage productions written for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. In addition to their regular season programming, COVID-19 has presented APO with the opportunity to engage further with both local and national audiences through virtual content and the online production of its performances. Engaging with virtual audiences has allowed The American Pops to attract and maintain a national audience through dynamic and fresh digital programs that appeal to all audience types and ages.