Keith Lockhart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keith Lockhart
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Lockhart in 2003
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Keith Alan Lockhart |
| Born | November 7, 1959 Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Orchestra conductor |
| Years active | 1989–present |
Keith Alan Lockhart (born November 7, 1959) is a famous American conductor. He leads the Boston Pops orchestra. He is also the main guest conductor for the BBC Concert Orchestra and the artistic director of the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina.
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Early Life and Education
Keith Lockhart was born on November 7, 1959, in Poughkeepsie, New York. He grew up in a nearby town called Wappingers Falls.
He started learning to play the piano when he was seven years old. In 1981, he graduated from Furman University. He studied both German and piano there. Later, he earned a master's degree in orchestral conducting from Carnegie Mellon University. This is where he learned how to lead an orchestra.
Musical Journey
Keith Lockhart's career as a conductor began in Cincinnati. He worked with the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Pops orchestras. He also led the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.
Leading the Boston Pops
In 1995, Lockhart became the conductor of the famous Boston Pops orchestra. He has led more than 1,900 concerts with them. Most of these concerts happen in Boston's historic Symphony Hall.
He also leads the Boston Pops at Tanglewood each year. They have gone on 43 national tours, visiting over 150 cities. They have also toured internationally to Japan and Korea.
Lockhart and the Pops have appeared in many TV shows. They were part of 79 episodes of Evening at Pops. They have also performed at big sporting events. These include Super Bowl XXXVI and the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park.
Every year on July 4th, Lockhart leads the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. This huge event draws over half a million people to the Charles River Esplanade. Millions more watch it on TV or online.
Recordings and Awards
Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops have recorded eight albums. Two of these, The Celtic Album and The Latin Album, were nominated for a Grammy Award.
Other albums include The Red Sox Album and A Boston Pops Christmas. They also released The Dream Lives On, which was a special piece about the Kennedy brothers. Their 2017 album, Lights, Camera … Music!, features music by John Williams.
From 1998 to 2009, Lockhart was also the music director of the Utah Symphony. He led three TV specials with them. One of these specials won an Emmy Award. He also conducted The Star-Spangled Banner at the opening of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
Other Conducting Roles
In 2010, Lockhart became the main conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra. He held this role until 2017. Since January 2018, he has been their chief guest conductor.
Lockhart is also the Artistic Director of the Brevard Music Center. This is a summer music program and festival. He actually attended this program himself when he was younger.
Keith Lockhart has conducted almost every major orchestra in North America. He has also led famous orchestras around the world. These include the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the London Philharmonic. He has also conducted operas for several opera companies.
Personal Life
Keith Lockhart is married to Emiley Zalesky. He has a son named Aaron, who was born in 2003.
Awards and Honors
In 2006, Keith Lockhart received the Bob Hope Patriot Award. This award comes from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. In 2017, he received the Commonwealth Award. This is the highest cultural honor given by the state of Massachusetts.
