Urbana Pops Orchestra


UPO is funded through donations and by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency .

The Return of UPO

UPO's first concert in two years due to the pandemic began with TROTUPO, a fanfare written especially for the occasion by Conductor Stephen L. Larson.

Next up was Music of the Royal Fireworks by Handel, Suite in E-Flat by Holst, Variations on "America" by Ives, and Hands Across the Sea by Sousa. Watch for recordings added to the UPO YouTube channel.

The concert ended with an encore featuring an original arrangement of Hot, Hot, Hot by Santos.


Showcasing Youth

At UPO's 2019 concert, the top three winners of the Chambana Concerto Competition were featured. Please enjoy this performance from pianist and first-place winner Jacob Hankin playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3.

Your gift helps UPO continue to mentor student musicians and offer free or low cost performances.

Past events

With high temps, the 2021 Pops in the Parking Lot concert moved inside the Urbana Middle School gym.
Recital at Urbana Free Library with Tamra Gingold, UPO violinist and education coordinator, and area student string players. Here's a recording.
UPO trumpet player Barkey Bryant and his students shared what they've been working on in a recital at Urbana Free Library.
2019 Urbana Park District Pit Orchestra for Into the Woods
Applehood & Motherpie hosted by Sigma Alpha Iota.
Spooky Strings at Urbana's Market at the Square