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 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 Wappingers Falls. He started learning to play the piano when he was seven years old.
He went to Furman University and graduated in 1981. He studied both German and piano there. Later, he earned a master's degree in orchestral conducting from Carnegie Mellon University.
Musical Career Highlights
Lockhart's career as a conductor began with the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Pops orchestras. He was also the music director for the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.
Leading the Boston Pops
In 1995, Keith Lockhart became the conductor of the Boston Pops. He has led over 1,900 concerts with them. Many of these concerts take place in Boston's historic Symphony Hall.
He has also led the Boston Pops on many tours. They have visited over 150 cities in 38 states across the U.S. They have also toured internationally to Japan and Korea.
Lockhart and the Pops have appeared on 79 television shows. These include the long-running show Evening at Pops. They have also performed at major sporting events. These include Super Bowl XXXVI and the 2018 World Series.
Every year, the Boston Pops performs at the July 4th Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. This event draws a huge live audience. 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 Grammy awards. Other albums include The Red Sox Album and A Boston Pops Christmas.
In 2017, they released Lights, Camera … Music! Six Decades of John Williams. This album features music by the famous composer John Williams.
Other Conducting Roles
From 1998 to 2009, Lockhart was also the music director of the Utah Symphony. He conducted 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.
In 2010, Lockhart became the principal conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra. He held this role until 2017. He then became the chief guest conductor until 2019.
He is also the Artistic Director of the Brevard Music Center. This is a summer music program that he attended when he was younger.
Keith Lockhart has conducted many major orchestras. These include nearly every big orchestra in North America. He has also conducted orchestras in Tokyo, London, and Rome. He has also led opera productions.
Personal Life
Keith Lockhart is married to Emiley Zalesky. They have a child named Kellan. He also has a son named Aaron from a previous marriage.
Awards and Recognition
Lockhart has received several important awards. In 2006, he received the Bob Hope Patriot Award. In 2017, he received the Commonwealth Award. This is the highest cultural honor given by the state of Massachusetts.
