POPS Conductor

Michael Berkowitz
Principal Pops Conductor

The Carolina POPS welcomes Michael Berkowitz in his second season as the GSO’s Principal POPS Conductor. Bringing to the podium extensive professional experience and personal charisma, he has been called “a model of high quality conducting technique” by reviewers. But it was the great composer-conductor, Johnny Green, who called Michael Berkowitz a “Drummer Conductor Extraordinaire.” He has performed as a drummer for Henry Mancini, Liza Minelli, Michael Crawford, Billy Joel, Sting, Elton John and Bette Midler; conducted for Marvin Hamlisch, Roberta Flack, and Sarah Brightman; led numerous orchestras including the Boston Pops, London Symphony, Cincinnati Pops; and is featured on recordings with Steve Lawrence, Placido Domingo, Linda Eder and countless original cast albums, movies, and television performances.