The American Pops

06/04/2026

With summer just around the corner, we're revisiting a favorite moment from our PBS series One Voice: The Songs We Share – Country.

Take a look back at this performance of "Hey Good Lookin'" featuring the legendary Leslie Jordan and acclaimed songwriter and producer Travis Howard, accompanied by members of the American Pops Orchestra, including bassist Greg Watkins, vocalist Hilary Morrow, and a fantastic violin solo from APO Concertmaster Regino Madrid.

You can watch this special in its entirety as well as the rest of the One Voice series on PBS. Check your local listings or explore the full collection through PBS Passport.

06/01/2026

Happy Pride Month from APO!

Throwback to our 2019 concert "I Am What I Am: The Music of Jerry Herman". Performed at Arena Stage, the show celebrated the legendary composer's body of work with a stacked cast and all new orchestrations.

The program featured performances from Kathy Najimy ("Hocus Pocus," "Sister Act," "King of the Hill"), Alexis Michelle ("RuPaul's Drag Race"), Mauricio Martinez ("On Your Feet"), Paige Davis ("Trading Spaces"), Christian Douglas ("Moulin Rouge," "Kinky Boots"), Tracy Lynn Olivera ("Ragtime"), Paul Roeckell (NextGen Finalist), APO favorite Hilary Morrow (The Second City, Birdland Jazz) and members from The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and The Washington Chorus.

Swipe to see some of the best moments from the show (and some of Alexis Michelle's best looks from the evening). A full sizzle reel from the show is available on our YouTube channel (link in bio).

05/30/2026

The second show of our summer porch concert series is around the corner! Join us in celebrating America's 250th with a monumental blast from the past.

Celebrating the fiercest female vocalists of the 90's, this upcoming concert will feature some of DC's most incredible singers. We are excited to welcome back APO favorites Madilyn Crossland, Brittany Chanell Johnson, and Bayla Whitten (Les Miserables West End, Signature Theatre),

Limited tickets are available now. Click the link in our bio to learn more and grab your seat!

05/29/2026

We're still amazed by the talent showcased by this year's NextGen finalists!

Here are just a few short clips of the finalists' performances. Each of these ten students brought their A-game to Lincoln Center last month and helped create an unforgettable weekend of music and lifelong memories. We cannot wait to see their careers unfold and continue to support them along the way!

To hear these songs and so many more musical moments from the event, visit our YouTube channel via the link in our bio!

And stay tuned... More details on our 10th NextGen Competition are coming soon!

05/20/2026

We had such a great time celebrating the music of the 60s & 70s at our first Summer Porch Concert of the season! Last night's concert featured the talents of some of our incredible NextGen Alums! A big thank you to Mandy McGovern (NextGen Winner '25), Jalen Kirkman (Chip Hand Prize, '24), and Mikey Mousaw (Chip Hand Prize '26) for sharing your voices with us!

Our 2nd Porch Concert is scheduled for Saturday, July 20th, and features the music of iconic 90s Divas! Get your tickets by going to www.theamericanpops.org and join us for an evening of songs you know and love (and be ready to sing along)! We can't wait to see you there!

05/10/2026

Throwback to the incredible Michelle Williams performing “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho” in One Voice: The Songs We Share.

One Voice: The Songs We Share, our national PBS series, celebrates the depth and breadth of American music through a wide range of genres and stories. Each episode explores a different corner of that musical landscape, and this clip comes from The Sacred episode, highlighting the powerful influence of spiritual and gospel traditions.

Watch the full performance and more on PBS—available on the PBS app, PBS Passport, or your local station.

05/06/2026

This summer, the American Pops Orchestra kicks off a three-part Porch Concert series celebrating music that shaped America—just in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary!

Join us May 19 for APO Porch Concert: A Musical Celebration of the ’60s and ’70s, featuring the songs of Carole King, Johnny Mercer, Linda Ronstadt, Bobby Darin, and more.

The best news? This concert features the talents of past NextGen Winners Mandy McGovern (2025 NextGen Winner), Jalen Kirkman (2024 Chip Hand Prize Winner), and Mikey Mousaw (2026 Chip Hand Prize Winner)!

We can't wait for you to hear them again. Tap the link in our bio to learn more and grab your seat—we’d love to have you there.

04/23/2026

It’s always special to take a song we love and hear it in a new way. In this throwback performance, Broadway’s Aisha Jackson (The Great Gatsby, Frozen, The Notebook) brings her signature powerhouse vocals to Lerner and Loewe’s timeless “If Ever I Would Leave You,” inspired by the iconic arrangement recorded by Aretha Franklin. What resulted is a beautiful conversation between a Broadway classic, one of the most legendary recording artists of all time, and the unbelievable talent of today. Filmed with APO at the Meridian International Center for our PBS special An Evening with Lerner and Loewe – Broadway in Concert, we hope you'll love this throwback as much as we do.

Check your local listings or log into PBS Passport to hear this performance in full, along with other reimagined Lerner & Loewe classics from Camelot, My Fair Lady, Brigadoon, Gigi and more!

04/21/2026

APO ❤️ Lincoln Center!! Thank you for being such a great partner and hosting our 9th Annual NextGen Vocal Competition! See you in 2027!

04/21/2026