The mission of The Monterey County Pops! is to connect, engage, and inspire by providing our professional orchestra to perform free pops and patriotic music -- as well as educational programs for underserved youth -- in collaboration with civic leaders, cultural groups, schools and community partners throughout Monterey County.
Today, we serve 1500 students in 9 schools with training in the afternoon followed by supper with students and our instructors followed by the performance for their families - with our students sitting side-by-side their mentors. Our goal for 2026 is to expand to at least 12 schools and serve 2000 students. We provide instruction and performances at no charge to our partner schools and no charge to the students' families. McGives! Donors are crucial to our capacity to provide the best and most dynamic instruction possible resulting in the most enjoyable and exciting performances possible to share with their families and their communities and lead to more and more success in life.
MC Gives donors ensure that our students will benefit from the excellent opportunities we provide in partnership with their local music director -- to learn, train and perform.
We value both excellence and access! We prioritize partnerships with schools in communities that have tremendous talent and interest -- but too few opportunities to learn, develop their skills, and perform. Our geographic priorities now are South County, North County and East Salinas.
My name is Matt Huot; I've been the music director at Greenfield High School for 7 years. I am writing as a testimony of how important and influential the Monterey County Pops! Orchestra schools program is to us. The time my students spend with these professional musicians has proven to have a lasting impact. During the sessions, our students learn so much about technique and general musicianship. The real highlight is the joint concert -- with our students sitting side-by-side their mentors. Their families -- our community -- really enjoys it all! It's hard to express just how much their outreach impacts the families and community members who attend. Best, Matt
- Matt Huot, Greenfield
