The orchestra was formed in 1977 in Cincinnati, Ohio by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Board of Trustees. Erich Kunzel was their first conductor who is still with them, and he celebrated 40 seasons with them in 2005-6. Previous to this orchestra Erich Kunzel was asked to join the orchestra at Brown University and after he had conducted a sold-out pops concert the Cincinnati Pops was born. They perform in the Cincinnati Music Hall and through their many tours, and at least two recordings a year, they have become one of the most active pops orchestras with at least 29 subscription concerts in two locations over the year. They are also the custodians of the Concert in the Parks series. It is said that they have one of the highest attendance ratings of an orchestra in America, with nearly 350,000 people attending performances each year and they have appeared on PBS programs on several occasions. They are unmatched by any other orchestra with 53 of their recordings appearing on the Billboard charts and won a Grammy Award for Copland: Music of America along with receiving four other nominations. The orchestra made history by being the first pops orchestra to perform in China in 2005.

Richard Addinsell Recordings

Warsaw Concerto

Telarc 80175 (CD: Selections from Victory at Sea and Other Favorites)

Conductor - Erich Kunzel

Piano - William Tritt

Leroy Anderson recordings

Concerto in C for piano and orchestra

Telarc CD-80112 (CD: American Piano Classics)

Conductor - Erich Kunzel

Piano - Stewart Goodyear

Thomas Moore and Sir John Stevenson recordings

The Last Rose of Summer

Telarc CD-80571 (CD: A Celtic Spectacular)

Conductor - Erich Kunzel

Arranger - Leroy Anderson

Tenor - John McDermott

Fiddle - Liz Knowles

Silver Arm Celtic Band

Pipes - Kieran O'Hare

Paul Anka recordings

The Longest Day March

Telarc 80175 (CD: Selections from Victory at Sea and Other Favorites)

Conductor - Erich Kunzel

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