Who is Lynchburg Pops?
Since 2019 Lynchburg Pops Community Band has provided an opportunity for local adults to play their instruments in an amateur band setting. Members of this multigenerational group come from different professions and backgrounds, but they share the love of creating beautiful music together. Each year Lynchburg Pops performs four major concerts for the community along with several smaller performances. Their eclectic repertoire includes everything from toe-tapping Broadway tunes to classic works for band from composers like Sousa, Holst, and Grainger
Since our beginning in 2019, we have been surprised by the response to our band from the community. Apparently, there are many people who miss concert bands as much as we do. Most of our concerts are hosted by Lynchburg’s Academy of the Arts, and it is not unusual to see a full house.
Our Conductors
We are privileged to be led by two conductors, both of whom have their own personalities and styles. To the band, Jim is a traditional conductor whose high expectations are tempered with a fatherly patience, while Steve is a relaxed jazz enthusiast whose teaching is laced with humor and fun. The two of them working together makes for an enjoyable experience for the band. It seems to us that they get better every year.
Jim Meredith - Conductor
James “Jim” Meredith retired in 2013 after a distinguished 40-year career teaching middle school band in Lynchburg, Virginia. Under his leadership, the Sandusky Advanced Band achieved numerous accolades, including performances at the Midwest Clinic, the Virginia Music Educators Conference, and several prestigious universities.
Jim’s personal awards include 2010 Virginia Music Educator of the Year, the 2014 BandWorld/John Philip Sousa Legion Laureate, and the 2015 Distinguished Alumnus Lifetime Achievement Award from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music. In 2021, he was inducted into the Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors Association Hall of Fame.
Steve Williams - Associate Conductor
Steve Williams is the Band Director at Liberty Middle School in Bedford, VA and the director of the Liberty High School Jazz Band. With over three decades of experience in music education, he brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and leadership to his students.
He holds two bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Jazz Composition, as well as a Master’s degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Missouri – Columbia. His expertise and commitment to musical excellence continue to inspire students and educators alike.
