About Firebird

The Firebird Pops Orchestra is a Greater Boston nonprofit regional pops orchestra made up of musicians from across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Our mission is to bring high-caliber, multimedia orchestral performances to local audiences—featuring music from film, television, video games, Broadway, and more—while maintaining an inclusive and community-driven spirit.

The orchestra presents a dynamic season of performances from June through December each year, with concerts in Wakefield, Massachusetts and at partner venues such as The Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, the Museum of Science in Boston, and Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester through our FPO@Hammond series.

About the Music Director

Learn more about Firebird’s Founder and Conductor, Brendan J. Kenney, renowned for his dynamic leadership and innovative performances that have captivated audiences across Greater Boston and beyond.

More about Brendan

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If you are an audience member with a comment, press/media looking to get in touch, an agent looking for more information on booking, a school district looking for virtual guidance, or anyone else, we’d love to hear from you! 

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The Firebird Pops Orchestra is pleased to participate in the Card to Culture program, a collaboration between Mass Cultural Council and the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Massachusetts Health Connector, and the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program by extending discounts to EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders. 

Born out of a desire to make music in a time of isolation, The Firebird Pops Orchestra emerged in 2020 as a virtual ensemble. Today, we are a thriving regional orchestra committed to redefining what orchestral music can be. Our performances blend the power of live music with synchronized multimedia design—delivering professional-caliber productions that are as accessible as they are extraordinary.

About the Music Director

Brendan J. Kenney, Founder/Music Director

Brendan J. Kenney is the founder and conductor of the Firebird Pops Orchestra, established virtually in 2020. Under his dynamic leadership, the ensemble has performed numerous innovative concerts across Greater Boston and the North Shore, quickly cementing its reputation as a leading arts organization in the region. Brendan is especially known for his engaging and charismatic stage presence, creating a concert experience where audiences feel intimately involved in the performance.

Brendan’s conducting journey evolved from his extensive experience as a theatre music director, a role he has excelled in for nearly 20 years. During this time, he has conducted over 100 productions in educational, amateur, and professional theatres, collaborating with many of the region’s finest musicians.

The Firebird Pops Orchestra was born during the pandemic, offering musicians a chance to help the arts “rise from the ashes” of the lockdown period. Brendan recognized a void in virtual performance opportunities and simultaneously saw a chance to fulfill his decade-long desire to fill the gap in accessible ensembles dedicated to performing pops repertoire. The Firebird Pops’ online performances quickly captivated audiences around the world, garnering both local and national media attention.

Since its inception and pivot to live programming, Brendan has led Firebird in sold-out performances across Massachusetts at iconic venues such as the Museum of Science in Boston, Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, The Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, and Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester where the orchestra maintains a popular concert series each season, including the beloved holiday program “Christmas at the Castle.”

In addition to his work with Firebird, Brendan is a respected clinician and adjudicator, offering workshops and evaluating music competitions for music students throughout the state. As a performer, he has appeared in backup choirs for renowned artists like Sarah Brightman on her Hymn and A Christmas Symphony tours, and Josh Groban on his Bridges tour. Brendan also frequently collaborates with Broadway in Worcester’s Education Division, accompanying masterclasses with prominent Broadway performers such as Laura Benanti, Kelli O’Hara, Jessie Mueller, and Santino Fontana.