Arthur Fiedler

(1894–1979)

Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra for 50 seasons, Arthur Fiedler mixed light classics with popular tunes, and became the icon of Pops Orchestras in America. His stage persona, and regular radio and television appearances made him an American musical institution.

Born in Boston on Dec. 17, 1894, his father was a violinist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra with whom he studied violin. After high school he went to Berlin, Germany, to study music, chiefly violin, returning in 1915 to join Boston Symphony Orchestra as a violinist. . He began conducting in 1924 and in 1930 was appointed director of the Boston Pops which is a group of musicians from the Boston Symphony.

Fiedler conducted a United States bicentennial concert on July 4, 1976 in Boston. It is estimated that 400,000 people were in attendance making it the largest audience for a concert of classical music in history.

Among the many pieces that are associated with his concerts are John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever", and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" .

He died on July 10, 1979 in Brookline, Massachusetts.