Through free pops and patriotic concerts for thousands of families, Monterey County Pops! has been a leading partner for communities eager to increase civic engagement since 1990. Concerned by the lack of music instruction in schools – especially for students with no access to private instruction — the Pops! added an immersive and collaborative education program in Salinas Valley communities. Music Director Dr. Carl Christensen and our musicians now provide free clinics at a growing number of schools. Students learn in small groups with orchestra mentors during the day and perform pieces relevant to their families — along with the orchestra — in the evening.
During the pandemic, The Pops continued to push boundaries — with a 40-piece orchestral 4th of July performance taped by local media nonprofit Access Monterey Peninsula who distributed the program on their stations and via You Tube – a success that garnered donations and accolades. In partnership with local educators, Dr. Christensen and his music educators again made the pivot online. We provided Zoom class workshops-Pops! Pros Teach LIVE – with very positive feedback. We still have POPS! Pros Teach — presented by 8 musicians, available via YouTube and the Monterey County Pops! web site. In addition, we added a new program for students K-6: K-6 Peter and the Wolf-Update provide introduction to music in a fun engaging format that includes live instruction and an engaging video in which each character is voiced by a particular instrument. This program is in high demand around the county. The Monterey County Pops! has been honored by the California State Assembly, the City of Salinas, and the Salinas Chamber of Commerce. Musical Director Carl Christensen was honored by the Arts Council for Monterey County as Champion of the Arts /Luminary in 2013 and honored by Hartnell College in August 2024.